West Coon Rapids, MN to Winona, MN is 133 miles and takes about 2 hours 59 minutes via Route 61, US 10, and Route 61/Route 63, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Most of the drive is on highways, making it a straightforward and efficient connection between these two points. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.5 miles from West Co on Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 61
54.1 mi
1h 8m
US 10
22.7 mi
30m
Route 61/Route 63
14.8 mi
19m
I 694
10.1 mi
10m
Red Wing Boulevard
6 mi
8m
Voyageur Highway
5.5 mi
6m
MN 252
3.4 mi
4m
North Lakeshore Drive
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Route 61
— 54.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Co on Rapids, MN and Winona, MN.
1
Start on CR 12
0.9 mi·1 min·West River Road
2
Continue on CR 12
1.9 mi·3 min·Noble Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward MN 610 EastUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto MN 610
0.6 mi·42 sec·MN-610
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 9Toward MN 252 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MN 252
3.4 mi·4 min·MN 252
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 94 West, I 694Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 694 East
9
Merge onto I 694
10 mi·10 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
5.5 mi·6 min·Voyageur Highway
Exit 46Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St PaulUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
2.5 mi·3 min·US 10
Exit 107AToward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta StreetUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 10; US 61
20 mi·26 min·US 10; US 61
Exit 244Toward US 10 East, US 61 SouthUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto MN 316
0.1 mi·13 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
62 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
15
Continue on MN 316
0.4 mi·32 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
16
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
71 ft·0 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
17
Continue on MN 316
0.5 mi·43 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
76 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
19
Continue on MN 316
4.9 mi·7 min·Red Wing Boulevard
20
Continue on MN 316
1.8 mi·2 min·Polk Avenue
21
Continue on MN 316
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 316 Boulevard
22
Enter roundabout onto US 61
247 ft·3 sec·Route 61
23
Continue on US 61
5.6 mi·6 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
6.1 mi·8 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 61
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 61; US 63
15 mi·19 min·Route 61/Route 63
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 61; US 63
2.8 mi·5 min·North Lakeshore Drive
28
Continue on US 61
9.5 mi·13 min·Route 61
29
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi·17 sec·2nd Street
30
Continue on US 61
33 mi·39 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn left onto Pelzer Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Pelzer Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto CR 32
0.4 mi·41 sec·West 5th Street
Use the right lane.
33
Continue on County Highway 32
0.1 mi·17 sec·County Highway 32
34
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
2.0 mi·4 min·West Broadway Street
35
Turn left onto MN 43
41 ft·1 sec·Main Street
36
Arrive at destination
MN 43
Trip Plan
For this short 133-mile drive, leaving anytime in the morning allows ample time to reach Winona, MN before evening. With a total duration under 3 hours, you won't need to break up the drive with an overnight stop. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs or refuel, which should be easy to find along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $20 for the trip, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on the final leg.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.5 miles from West Co on Rapids, MN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winona, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Co on Rapids, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Co on Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 133 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from West Co on Rapids, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Route 61 for about 54.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward MN 610 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MN 610 East
8
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West, I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 94 West, I 694
9
18.5 mi into trip|~24m in|US 10 / Voyageur Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
9
24 mi into trip|~31m in|US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th...
8
26.5 mi into trip|~34m in|US 10; US 61
Take the exit onto US 10; US 61 toward US 10 East, US 61 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 244
Toward US 10 East, US 61 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.79 one way
$39.59 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$21.33
$42.65
premium
$4.53
$23.73
$47.46
diesel
$5.61
$29.36
$58.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.64
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 21, 2026
Origin
West Co on Rapids, MN
Late night
in West Co on Rapids on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winona, MN
Late night
in Winona on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Vermillion, MN
67 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 59m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 83% of the total 133 miles on faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 54.1 miles on Route 61 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter a steady flow of traffic and numerous exits for much of the drive. The transition from highway to more local roads is gradual, offering a mix of speeds.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on Route 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 61 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 133 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Winona, known as the Island City, is a historic river and college town in Southeastern Minnesota, located on a large sandbar among the bluffs along the Mississippi River. It is about 110 miles southeast of the Twin Cities.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 133 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on Route 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Winona, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Winona, MN before heading back.
