Origin
Saint Paul Park, MN
Late night in Saint Paul Park on Sunday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Paul Park, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
22 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul Park, MN
Adriaan Greyling
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Saint Paul Park, MN to Apple Valley, MN is 22 miles and takes about 30m via I 494, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Minnesota, moving through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip focused on highway travel, making it an easy addition to a longer journey or a quick hop between nearby cities. Plan for a quick, efficient transit between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| I 35E | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Cedar Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| US 10 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Summit Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 9th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 6.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul Park, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on 9th Avenue
35 ft
·
3 sec
·
9th Avenue
2
Turn right onto Summit Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Summit Avenue
3
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 10 West, US 61 North
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 10; US 61
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 10; US 61
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130A
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 West
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 494
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 494
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35E
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 92
Toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto MN 77
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 42
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 10.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward US 10 West, US 61 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 10 West, US 61 North
8
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, I 494 East
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 130A
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 494 West
8
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
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 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Sa...
7
10.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.27 one way
$6.55 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.53 | $7.06 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.93 | $7.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.86 | $9.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Apple Valley, MN
Late night in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
21 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
30m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 67% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 494 and I 35E. You'll experience a 6.8-mile stretch on I 494, offering a consistent highway pace for a significant portion of the trip. Cedar Avenue also plays a role, providing a transition between the faster highway segments. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.8 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35E. 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
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 22 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Paul Park, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 22 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.8 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Apple Valley, 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: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Apple Valley, 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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