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Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Crow Wing, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 34m

Distance

129 mi

208 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

capital of the state of Minnesota, United States; county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Crow Wing, MN, MN

Crow Wing, MN

Gundula Vogel

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Paul, MN to Crow Wing, MN covers 129 miles and takes about 2h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 10, MN 371, I-94 W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.3 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.43 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

64.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 10 73.3 mi 1h 27m
MN 371 21.6 mi 24m
I-94 W 17.1 mi 18m
I 94 6 mi 6m
I 35E 4.9 mi 6m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Park Boulevard Southeast 1.4 mi 1m
Pine Street 0.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 10 — 73.3 mi, about 1h 27m

Traffic on I-94

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,601 veh/hr typical · worst 5,350

Quietest

2 AM

~275 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

16.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Crow Wing, MN.

1

Start on Wabasha Street North

0.3 mi · 1 min · Wabasha Street North
2

Turn right onto MN 5

0.2 mi · 44 sec · 7th Street East
3

Turn left onto Robert Street North

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Robert Street North
4

Turn right onto 11th Street East

451 ft · 17 sec · 11th Street East
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
6

Continue on I 35E

4.9 mi · 6 min · I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 10
Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on US 10

19 mi · 22 min · US 10
Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 94

17 mi · 18 min · I-94 W
Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

6.0 mi · 6 min · I 94
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
12

Turn right onto MN 25

0.8 mi · 2 min · Pine Street
13

Continue on MN 25

0.1 mi · 19 sec · State Highway 25
14

Turn left onto County Road 11

0.7 mi · 53 sec · County Road 11
15

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast
16

Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast
17

Turn left onto US 10

54 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 10
18

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371

22 mi · 24 min · MN 371
19

Arrive at destination

MN 371

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 28 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.5 miles or 1h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crow Wing, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Paul, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Paul, MN

This is one driving day of about 129 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 73.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albertville, MN

65 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Maple Grove, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Cloud, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 6.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | MN 5 / 7th Street East

Turn right onto MN 5 / 7th Street East

Navigation decision point

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Robert Street North

Turn left onto Robert Street North

Navigation decision point

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, US 10 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
5.9 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 113-114 Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
5
6.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 10

Continue onto US 10 toward I 694 West, US 10 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 113 Toward I 694 West, US 10 West

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.43 one way

$40.85 round trip

$4.02/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.28 $21.75 $43.50
premium $4.85 $24.62 $49.24
diesel $5.60 $28.44 $56.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.7 0 $13.55 $6.19
Efficient EV 32.3 0 $11.29 $5.16
EV Truck/SUV 51.6 0 $18.06 $8.26

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Sep 4, 2026

Origin

Saint Paul, MN

Late night in Saint Paul on Sunday

Local time

12:23 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Crow Wing, MN

Late night in Crow Wing on Sunday

Local time

12:23 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

55°F

Albertville, MN

65 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

7 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 34m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

129 mi in 2h 34m, mostly highway — 73.3 mi of that is on US 10.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.3 mi on US 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near MN 5 / 7th Street East.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 129 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (MN 5 / 7th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,196 ft 789 ft

Total Climb

544 ft

Total Descent

136 ft

Highest Point

1,196 ft

~129 mi in

Elevation Range

407 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Saint Paul, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1854

Saint Paul (or St. Paul) is the capital city and the second largest city of the US state of Minnesota. Along with the slightly larger Minneapolis it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolis in the Midwest.

Top landmarks

  • Minnesota State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Minnesota
  • Cathedral of Saint Paul, National Shrine of the Apostle Paul — cathedral in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
  • Saint Paul Union Depot — train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 129 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.3 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Crow Wing, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (MN 5 / 7th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Crow Wing, MN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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