Origin
Waverly, MN
Late night in Waverly on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waverly, MN to Saint Paul, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 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
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waverly, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Paul, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.2-mile drive from Waverly, MN, to Saint Paul, MN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on Babcock Boulevard and then transition to I-94 and I-394. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this route through the Midwest offers a straightforward journey. It's an ideal option if you're looking for a quick and efficient connection between these two Minnesota locations without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| I 94 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| I 394 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| US 12 | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Saint Peter Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Babcock Boulevard
— 14.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, MN and Saint Paul, MN.
1
Start on CR 9
155 ft
·
8 sec
·
Atlantic Avenue
2
Turn left onto South 4th Street
337 ft
·
21 sec
·
South 4th Street
3
Turn left onto US 12
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Pacific Avenue
4
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12
5
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Boulevard
6
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
7
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
8
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
9
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
10
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
11
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
13
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto I 394
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward 10th Street
20
Continue on 10th Street West
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Street West
21
Turn right onto Saint Peter Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Peter Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
394 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kellogg Boulevard West
Use the left / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
214 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Wabasha Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.6 miles from Waverly, 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 36 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
36 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 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 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
8
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward 10th Street, 5th Street
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 241B
Toward 10th Street, 5th Street
6
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Kellogg Boulevard West
At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Wabasha Street North
Turn left onto Wabasha Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.02 one way
$14.05 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.42 | $16.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.42 | $20.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Saint Paul, MN
Late night in Saint Paul on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:44PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive experience on this 47.2-mile route. While 53% of your journey will be on highways like I-94 and I-394, you'll also encounter stretches on local roads like Babcock Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll cover is 14.5 miles on Babcock Boulevard, offering a different pace before merging onto faster-moving interstate traffic. This blend means you'll experience both open-road cruising and more typical suburban or town driving conditions.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Babcock Boulevard.
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 36 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 47.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,027 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
211 ft
Total Descent
426 ft
Highest Point
1,027 ft
~16.9 mi in
Elevation Range
238 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 47.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on Babcock Boulevard. 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 Saint Paul, 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 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Paul, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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