How far is Saint Paul, MN from Erie, MN?

The driving distance from Saint Paul, MN to Erie, MN is about 313.7 miles (504.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
313.72 mi
06h 11m
Flight
249.69 mi
401.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Paul.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
249.69 mi
Kilometers
401.84 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
313.72 mi
Kilometers
504.89 km
Drive Time
06h 11m

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 06h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Erie
Thu, Apr 16, 7:10 AM CDT
Return by in Saint Paul
Thu, Apr 16, 1:22 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Paul
2026-04-16T00:59
Arrive Erie
Thu, Apr 16, 7:10 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:12 PM to 1:42 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Paul
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Verndale
MN

City in Wadena County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Saint Paul
156.7 mi
03h 05m
To Erie
157 mi
03h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph ESE
Destination
69°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 17 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul and Erie.

  1. 1

    Start on Wabasha Street North

    1641 ft · 1 min · Wabasha Street North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 7th Street East

    1140 ft · 44 sec · 7th Street East

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Robert Street North

    1071 ft · 40 sec · Robert Street North

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 11th Street East

    137 m · 18 sec · 11th Street East

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, US 10 West

    1156 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    4.9 mi · 6 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East

    1620 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on I 694 West, US 10 West

    18.5 mi · 23 min

  9. 9

    Continue on I-94 W

    17.1 mi · 19 min · I-94 W

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    6 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    2016 ft · 53 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Pine Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Pine Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Highway 25

    540 ft · 19 sec · State Highway 25

  14. 14

    Turn left onto County Road 11

    1.1 km · 54 sec · County Road 11

  15. 15

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  16. 16

    Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  17. 17

    Turn left

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    38 mi · 43 min

  19. 19

    Turn straight

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    10.9 mi · 12 min

  21. 21

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 2 sec

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    30 m · 2 sec

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout

    29 m · 1 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight

    44.9 mi · 52 min

  25. 25

    Turn right

    85 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  26. 26

    Turn slight right onto Center Street East

    15.4 mi · 19 min · Center Street East

  27. 27

    Turn left onto 350th Avenue Northeast

    1 mi · 3 min · 350th Avenue Northeast

  28. 28

    Continue on 350th Avenue Northeast

    2.6 mi · 6 min · 350th Avenue Northeast

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 350th Avenue Northeast

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
165th Avenue Southeast
50.7 mi · 16%
I-94 W
23.5 mi · 7%
I 694 West
18.5 mi · 6%
Center Street East
15.4 mi · 5%
I 35E North
5.11 mi · 2%
350th Avenue Northeast
3.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

85 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 11m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+64 mi
249.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Verndale
03h 05m from Saint Paul
Leave By
11:36 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Saint Paul and Mostly Sunny near Erie.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Saint Paul to Erie?

The road trip is about 313.7 miles (504.9 km) and usually takes 06h 11m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Verndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.7 miles from Saint Paul and 157 miles from Erie.

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

The direct path is about 249.7 miles (401.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 64 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.51 one way or $79.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Saint Paul and Mostly Sunny near Erie.

Stop Ideas Near Verndale

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Verndale, 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 Verndale.

RAIL

Staples

18 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

Detroit Lakes

79 mi away
116 Pioneer Street
RAIL

St. Cloud

114 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Paul and Erie. Straight-line distance: 249.69 mi (401.84 km).

Saint Paul

#1 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
Erie

#2 Erie

Human settlement in Pennington County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population1,761
Coordinates48.0722200, -95.7250000
Altitude359
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Paul (-93.09327, 44.94441)
End: Erie (-95.725, 48.07222)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 505 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.07 gal
41.91 L · about $39.51
Round trip
$79.02
22.14 gal · 83.82 L
Estimated CO2
98.4 kg one way
Round trip: 196.8 kg / 434 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $39.51 $79.02
Mid-grade $3.92 $43.41 $86.81
Premium $4.39 $48.62 $97.24
Diesel $4.86 $53.84 $107.69

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Paul and Erie. The current time is 00:59:03.

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.