How far is Lake City, MN from Saint Paul, MN?

The driving distance from Lake City, MN to Saint Paul, MN is about 61.3 miles (98.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53 miles (85.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
61.26 mi
01h 10m
Flight
53.02 mi
85.32 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.02 mi
Kilometers
85.32 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
61.26 mi
Kilometers
98.59 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Paul
Sat, Apr 18, 8:39 PM CDT
Return by in Lake City
Sat, Apr 18, 9:49 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake City
2026-04-18T19:29
Arrive Saint Paul
Sat, Apr 18, 8:39 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Miesville
MN

City in Minnesota, United States

From Lake City
31.1 mi
00h 35m
To Saint Paul
30.2 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
43°F
Saturday

Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
44°F
Saturday

Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake City and Saint Paul.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake City and Saint Paul.

  1. 1

    Start on West Chestnut Street

    55 m · 13 sec · West Chestnut Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Lakeshore Drive

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Lakeshore Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on Route 61/Route 63

    14.8 mi · 19 min · Route 61/Route 63

  4. 4

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · East Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Route 61

    6.5 mi · 9 min · Route 61

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Route 61

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Route 61

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 316 Boulevard

    7 m · 1 sec · Highway 316 Boulevard

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 316 Boulevard

    2 mi · 3 min · Highway 316 Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Polk Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Polk Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Red Wing Boulevard

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Red Wing Boulevard

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Red Wing Boulevard

    22 m · 1 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard

    2575 ft · 44 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Red Wing Boulevard

    20 m · 1 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard

    1916 ft · 32 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Red Wing Boulevard

    21 m · 1 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Red Wing Boulevard

    583 ft · 10 sec · Red Wing Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Vermillion Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Vermillion Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Hastings Road South

    1047 ft · 15 sec · Hastings Road South

  20. 20

    Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

    16.9 mi · 21 min · Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Warner Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Warner Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Sibley Street

    531 ft · 26 sec · Sibley Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard East

    533 ft · 20 sec · Kellogg Boulevard East

  24. 24

    Continue on Kellogg Boulevard East

    1453 ft · 58 sec · Kellogg Boulevard East

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Wabasha Street North

    50 m · 6 sec · Wabasha Street North

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wabasha Street North

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake City and Saint Paul.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
26 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
0 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
42.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veteran
17.6 mi · 29%
Route 61/Route 63
14.8 mi · 24%
Route 61
11.7 mi · 19%
Red Wing Boulevard
5.93 mi · 10%
Warner Road
2.42 mi · 4%
Highway 316 Boulevard
1.99 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veteran

Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway

16.9 mi · 00h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.3 mi
53 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Miesville
00h 35m from Lake City
Leave By
4:10 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain And Snow Showers leaving Lake City and Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Saint Paul.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake City to Saint Paul?

The road trip is about 61.3 miles (98.6 km) and usually takes 01h 10m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Miesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 31.1 miles from Lake City and 30.2 miles from Saint Paul.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 53 miles (85.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.71 one way or $15.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain And Snow Showers around Lake City and Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Saint Paul.

Stop Ideas Near Miesville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Miesville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Miesville.

RAIL

Red Wing station

22 mi away
420 Levee Street
RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

50 mi away
Midway Station
BUS

Menomonie, WI

76 mi away
302 10th Avenue East
BUS

Eau Claire, WI

100 mi away
6251 Traux Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake City and Saint Paul. Straight-line distance: 53.02 mi (85.32 km).

Lake City

#1 Lake City

City in Minnesota, USA

Population4,357
Coordinates44.4496800, -92.2682000
Altitude210
CountryUnited States
Saint Paul

#2 Saint Paul

The second most populous city in Minnesota and the center of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area.

Population306,717
Coordinates44.9444100, -93.0932700
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Start: West Chestnut Street (-92.26823, 44.449699)
End: Wabasha Street North (-93.093258, 44.944416)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 99 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.16 gal
8.18 L · about $7.71
Round trip
$15.42
4.32 gal · 16.36 L
Estimated CO2
19.2 kg one way
Round trip: 38.4 kg / 85 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $7.71 $15.42
Mid-grade $3.92 $8.47 $16.94
Premium $4.39 $9.49 $18.97
Diesel $4.86 $10.51 $21.01

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake City and Saint Paul. The current time is 19:29:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.