Saint Paul, MN to Watab, MN is 83 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via US 10 and I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip through the Midwest, entirely within Minnesota, making it an easy single-day excursion. The route is predominantly highway, so you'll cover ground quickly. Consider this drive if you're looking for a simple, efficient transit between these two points without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
48.6 mi
58m
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
County Road 11
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 48.6 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,330 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,983
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Watab, 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
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
30 mi·35 min·US 10
18
Turn left onto CR 79
0.3 mi·48 sec·75th Street Northwest
19
At end of road, turn left onto CR 55
20 ft·0 sec·Northeast River Road
20
Arrive at destination
CR 55
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Saint Paul in the morning should get you to Watab well before midday. With only 83 miles and a low fuel cost of around $14, you won't need to worry much about frequent stops. However, plan to take advantage of the exits along I-94 for any necessary breaks or to grab a snack. Keep an eye on your GPS as you get closer to Watab, as the route may shift from highway to smaller roads for the final approach.
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 41.5 miles from Saint Paul, MN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watab, 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 83 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Saint Paul, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 48.6 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 13
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
$13.96 one way
$27.93 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$15.04
$30.08
premium
$5.04
$16.46
$32.91
diesel
$5.64
$18.43
$36.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.72
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.26
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Saint Paul, MN
Evening
in Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
8:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Blowing Dust Advisory
Blowing Dust Advisory issued May 14 at 9:41PM CDT until May 15 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 14 at 9:41PM CDT until May 15 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Watab, MN
Evening
in Watab on Friday
Local time
8:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Corcoran, MN
42 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
10 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 42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is mostly highway, with 92% of the 83 miles on interstates and major US routes. You'll experience about 48.6 miles on US 10 as the longest stretch before merging onto I-94 W. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits as you navigate this stretch. The transition from highway to potentially more local roads will likely occur as you approach your destination in Watab.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.6 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I-94 W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near MN 5 / 7th Street East.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83 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 0.3 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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 83 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.6 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Watab, 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 0.3 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 Watab, MN before heading back.
