Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Late night in Saint Paul on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Montrose, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Montrose, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Saint Paul to Montrose is 44.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via US 12 and I-394, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive that primarily uses highways but also incorporates surface roads, making it a practical option for a quick transit or a relaxed afternoon excursion. Given its short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive with ample time for your plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 17.8 mi | 23m |
| Purple Heart Memorial Highway | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| I 394 | 8 mi | 10m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| 60th Street Southeast | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Wabasha Street North | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Avenue South | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 17.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Montrose, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Take the ramp
347 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 94 West
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 94 West
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 94
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 394
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 12
135 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
9
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
11
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
12
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
13
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 12
14
Turn slight right onto US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
15
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; MN 25
16
Continue on US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
17
Turn right onto CR 12
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Buffalo Avenue South
18
Arrive at destination
CR 12
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Saint Paul, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 19.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35E South, I 94 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35E South, I 94 West
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94 / Purple Heart Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 94 / Purple Heart Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 394 West, US 12 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.62 one way
$13.24 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.14 | $14.27 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.94 | $15.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Montrose, MN
Late night in Montrose on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 1m 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?
This drive features a mixed highway and surface road profile. You'll be on high-speed roads for about 58% of the total distance. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 17.8 miles along US 12. Expect a transition from highway cruising to more local traffic as you approach your destination, with potentially more frequent intersections and reduced speeds on the surface road segments.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 94 / Purple Heart Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Montrose, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 94 / Purple Heart Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montrose, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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