Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Night in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul, MN to Waconia, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Waconia, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Saint Paul to Waconia is 39 miles and takes about 57 minutes via MN 5, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, making it a convenient option for a quick escape from the Twin Cities metro area. With most of the drive on highways, you'll cover ground efficiently. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a simple and direct way to reach your destination without a lot of fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 31.5 mi | 42m |
| Shepard Road | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Main Street East | 1 mi | 2m |
| I 494 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Exchange Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Eagle Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Mississippi River Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 5
— 31.5 mi, about 42m
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,010 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~339 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 18 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 Waconia, MN.
1
Start on Wabasha Street North
198 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
2
Turn left onto 4th Street West
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
4th Street West
3
Turn left onto Market Street
264 ft
·
12 sec
·
Market Street
4
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard West
261 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
5
Turn slight left onto Exchange Street South
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Exchange Street South
6
Turn left onto Eagle Parkway
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Eagle Parkway
7
Turn right onto CH 37
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Shepard Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on South Mississippi River Boulevard
266 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Mississippi River Boulevard
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MN 5 West
10
Merge onto MN 5
13 mi
·
16 min
·
MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 494; MN 5
12
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 5
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 5
16 mi
·
22 min
·
MN 5
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 59
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street East
15
Turn right onto North Olive Street
210 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Olive Street
16
Turn right
175 ft
·
14 sec
17
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
4th Street West
Turn left onto 4th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CH 37 / Shepard Road
Turn right onto CH 37 / Shepard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
21.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.56 one way
$13.12 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
| premium | $5.04 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.66 | $17.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Waconia, MN
Night in Waconia on Friday
Local time
11:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
2 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
57m 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 route is primarily highway, with 82% of the 39 miles on major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 31.5 miles on MN 5 before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a consistent driving pace with fewer interruptions for the majority of your travel time. The transition from highway to local roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.5 mi on MN 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 5 and Shepard Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Street West.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 39 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Arriving in Waconia, MN
Full guide →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 57m. Total distance: 39 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.5 miles on MN 5. 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 Waconia, 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: near the start (4th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CH 37 / Shepard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waconia, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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