Saint Paul, MN to Dilworth, MN is 241.1 miles and takes about 4h 27m via I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing Minnesota for its entirety. It's primarily a highway route, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll find it's a practical option for getting from the Twin Cities area to the western part of the state without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
194.2 mi
3h 28m
US 10
21 mi
26m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
I 35E
4.9 mi
6m
70th Street South
2.2 mi
2m
Wabasha Street North
0.3 mi
1m
7th Street East
0.2 mi
<1m
Robert Street North
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 194.2 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 35 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,498 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,975
Quietest
2 AM
~157 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 50 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 Dilworth, 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 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 10
19 mi·22 min·US 10
Exit 113Toward I 694 West, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I-94 W
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
194 mi·3 hr 28 min·I 94
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward MN 336
12
Turn right onto MN 336
2.2 mi·2 min·70th Street South
13
Turn left
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Dilworth
14
Turn straight onto US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·US 10
15
Turn right
72 ft·7 sec
16
Turn right
90 ft·6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 27m drive, departing Saint Paul in the morning is your best bet, allowing ample time to reach Dilworth before evening. Since it’s a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but aim to stop at least once to stretch and refuel, especially given the 194.2-mile stretch on I-94. Keep an eye on your fuel level as services can become less frequent the further west you go in Minnesota. You'll spend approximately $36 on fuel for this trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.2 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.5 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dilworth, 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 241.1 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 I 94 for about 194.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 238.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
238.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Turn left toward Dilworth
Navigation decision point
Toward Dilworth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.56 one way
$81.12 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$43.68
$87.37
premium
$5.04
$47.80
$95.60
diesel
$5.64
$53.53
$107.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.3
0
$25.32
$11.57
Efficient EV
60.3
0
$21.10
$9.64
EV Truck/SUV
96.4
1
$33.75
$15.43
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 May 9, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Evening
in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dilworth, MN
Evening
in Dilworth on Friday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely on highways, with a 98% highway share. You'll be on I-94 W for the longest stretch, covering 194.2 miles. The transition to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and occur towards the end of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent, but not overwhelming, exits along the main interstate.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 10. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Robert Street North.
Driving Effort6/10
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 241.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.5 miles (Robert Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Dilworth is in Minnesota. It began as a somewhat industrial railroad town, and has developed into a quaint small suburb to the east of Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 241.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Dilworth, 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 5.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Dilworth, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
