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

The driving distance from Saint Paul, MN to Howard Lake, MN is about 52.5 miles (84.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.5 miles (78.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 27m 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
52.51 mi
01h 13m
Flight
48.55 mi
78.13 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saint Paul.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.55 mi
Kilometers
78.13 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.51 mi
Kilometers
84.51 km
Drive Time
01h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Howard Lake
Tue, May 12, 9:59 PM CDT
Return by in Saint Paul
Tue, May 12, 11:13 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saint Paul
2026-05-12T20:46
Arrive Howard Lake
Tue, May 12, 9:59 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saint Paul
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
Long Lake
MN

City in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

From Saint Paul
26.2 mi
00h 36m
To Howard Lake
26.3 mi
00h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph W
Destination
71°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 25 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Wabasha Street North

    3073 ft · 2 min · Wabasha Street North

  2. 2

    Take the ramp left toward I 35E South, I 94 West

    106 m · 8 sec

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West

    1645 ft · 40 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight right onto Purple Heart Memorial Highway

    9.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 394 West, US 12 West

    3151 ft · 60 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    8 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    12.3 mi · 16 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Babcock Boulevard;County Road 90

    41 m · 2 sec · Babcock Boulevard

  9. 9

    Exit the rotary onto Babcock Boulevard

    2 mi · 3 min · Babcock Boulevard

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Babcock Boulevard

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Babcock Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on US 12

    3.6 mi · 5 min · US 12

  12. 12

    Continue on 60th Street Southeast

    1234 ft · 19 sec · 60th Street Southeast

  13. 13

    Continue on US 12

    1 km · 51 sec · US 12

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto 60th Street Southeast

    2418 ft · 39 sec · 60th Street Southeast

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto US 12

    1.3 mi · 2 min · US 12

  16. 16

    Continue on Nelson Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Nelson Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on US 12

    1.9 mi · 3 min · US 12

  18. 18

    Continue on Pacific Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Pacific Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on US 12

    4.1 mi · 6 min · US 12

  20. 20

    Continue on 6th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · 6th Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 394 West
20.9 mi · 40%
US 12
11.6 mi · 22%
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
9.86 mi · 19%
Babcock Boulevard
6.1 mi · 12%
Nelson Boulevard
1.09 mi · 2%
60th Street Southeast
0.69 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 394 West

Keep slight left

12.3 mi · 00h 16m

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 13m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4 mi
48.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Long Lake
00h 36m from Saint Paul
Leave By
4:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Saint Paul and Mostly Sunny near Howard Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 52.5 miles (84.5 km) and usually takes 01h 13m 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?

Long Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.2 miles from Saint Paul and 26.3 miles from Howard Lake.

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

The direct path is about 48.5 miles (78.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 4 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 4:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.60 one way or $13.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Long Lake

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

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

RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

30 mi away
Midway Station
RAIL

St. Cloud

79 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Red Wing station

94 mi away
420 Levee Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saint Paul and Howard Lake. Straight-line distance: 48.55 mi (78.13 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
Howard Lake

#2 Howard Lake

City in Wright County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population2,162
Coordinates45.0608000, -94.0733100
Altitude310
CountryUnited States
Start: Saint Paul (-93.09327, 44.94441)
End: Howard Lake (-94.07331, 45.0608)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.85 gal
7.01 L · about $6.60
Round trip
$13.21
3.7 gal · 14.02 L
Estimated CO2
16.4 kg one way
Round trip: 32.9 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $6.60 $13.21
Mid-grade $3.92 $7.25 $14.51
Premium $4.39 $8.13 $16.25
Diesel $4.86 $9.00 $18.00

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Saint Paul and Howard Lake. The current time is 20:46:20.

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.