This 76.7-mile drive from Saint Paul, MN to Wabasha, MN is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Primarily following Route 61, with some segments on US 10 and Route 63, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making for a predictable and efficient travel experience. You'll stay within Minnesota for the entirety of this trip, offering a convenient way to see a portion of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 61
22.6 mi
30m
US 10
19.5 mi
25m
Route 61/Route 63
14.8 mi
19m
Red Wing Boulevard
6 mi
8m
North Lakeshore Drive
2.8 mi
5m
Warner Road
2.5 mi
3m
Highway 316 Boulevard
2 mi
2m
Polk Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Route 61
— 22.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul, MN and Wabasha, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
198 ft·10 sec·Wabasha Street North
2
Turn right onto 4th Street East
391 ft·17 sec·4th Street East
3
Turn right onto Cedar Street
365 ft·14 sec·Cedar Street
4
Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard East
0.2 mi·47 sec·Kellogg Boulevard East
5
Turn right onto Jackson Street
480 ft·21 sec·Jackson Street
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on Jackson Street
162 ft·7 sec·Jackson Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto CH 37
2.5 mi·3 min·Warner Road
8
Turn right onto US 10; US 61
19 mi·25 min·US 10; US 61
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto MN 316
0.1 mi·13 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
10
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
62 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
11
Continue on MN 316
0.4 mi·32 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
71 ft·0 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
13
Continue on MN 316
0.5 mi·43 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
76 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
15
Continue on MN 316
4.9 mi·7 min·Red Wing Boulevard
16
Continue on MN 316
1.8 mi·2 min·Polk Avenue
17
Continue on MN 316
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 316 Boulevard
18
Enter roundabout onto US 61
247 ft·3 sec·Route 61
19
Continue on US 61
5.6 mi·6 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
6.1 mi·8 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 61
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 61; US 63
15 mi·19 min·Route 61/Route 63
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 61; US 63
2.8 mi·5 min·North Lakeshore Drive
24
Continue on US 61
9.5 mi·13 min·Route 61
25
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi·17 sec·2nd Street
26
Continue on US 61
1.3 mi·1 min·Route 61
27
Turn left onto CR 59
1.4 mi·2 min·5th Grant Boulevard West
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on CR 59
0.3 mi·25 sec·Grant Boulevard West
29
Continue on CR 59
0.1 mi·17 sec·4th Grant Boulevard West
30
Turn left onto Bridge Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Bridge Avenue
31
Turn right onto Main Street West
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street West
32
Turn right onto Alleghany Avenue
77 ft·3 sec·Alleghany Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
Alleghany Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 48 minutes for this 76.7-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time and stops. The estimated fuel cost is a reasonable $11, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, though you won't likely need many. Since there are no specific stops noted, consider this a drive where you can either head straight to Wabasha or make spontaneous detours. A practical tip: keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between Route 61, US 10, and Route 63 to ensure you're on the most efficient path. This allows for a relaxed pace and the freedom to enjoy the journey.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.3 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.6 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wabasha, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Paul, MN
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Route 61 for about 22.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Jackson Street
Turn right onto Jackson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
3 mi into trip|~5m in|US 10; US 61
Turn right onto US 10; US 61
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
22.6 mi into trip|~31m in|MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
37.9 mi into trip|~52m in|US 61 / Route 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 / Route 61
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|CR 59 / 5th Grant Boulevard West
Turn left onto CR 59 / 5th Grant Boulevard West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.41 one way
$22.83 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$12.30
$24.60
premium
$4.53
$13.69
$27.37
diesel
$5.61
$16.93
$33.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Late night
in Saint Paul on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wabasha, MN
Late night
in Wabasha on Tuesday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Trenton, WI
38 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
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 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the most part, with 77% of the 76.7-mile route utilizing established highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 22.6 miles on Route 61, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While largely on highways, the route is not a monotonous interstate grind; it incorporates key state and US routes that often provide a more engaging driving experience. The roads will shift between these designations, keeping the journey varied without sacrificing efficiency. Overall, this drive offers a balance of steady progress and a sense of place.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on Route 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 61 and US 10. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Jackson Street.
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 76.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.4 miles (Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10; US 61): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 76.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 miles on Route 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Wabasha, 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 0.4 miles (Jackson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 10; US 61): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (MN 316 / Red Wing Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wabasha, MN before heading back.
