How far is Watertown, MN from Cologne, MN?

The driving distance from Watertown, MN to Cologne, MN is about 15.5 miles (25 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.7 miles (22 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.52 mi
00h 24m
Flight
13.65 mi
21.96 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watertown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.65 mi
Kilometers
21.96 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.52 mi
Kilometers
24.98 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 00h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cologne
Wed, Apr 22, 11:49 PM CDT
Return by in Watertown
Thu, Apr 23, 12:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watertown
2026-04-22T23:24
Arrive Cologne
Wed, Apr 22, 11:49 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Watertown
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Maple
MN

Human settlement in Waconia Township, Minnesota, United States of America

From Watertown
7.8 mi
00h 12m
To Cologne
7.8 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Watertown and Cologne.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Watertown and Cologne.

  1. 1

    Start on Lewis Avenue South

    20 m · 10 sec · Lewis Avenue South

  2. 2

    Continue on Lewis Avenue South

    29 m · 4 sec · Lewis Avenue South

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Territorial Street East

    5 m · 1 sec · Territorial Street East

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Territorial Street East

    971 ft · 27 sec · Territorial Street East

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward White Street

    19 m · 2 sec · White Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto White Street

    1736 ft · 43 sec · White Street

  7. 7

    Continue on County Road 10

    4 mi · 6 min · County Road 10

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Road 10

    56 m · 3 sec · County Road 10

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto County Road 10

    3.6 mi · 5 min · County Road 10

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Waconia Parkway North

    39 m · 2 sec · Waconia Parkway North

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Waconia Parkway North

    1.3 km · 1 min · Waconia Parkway North

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Waconia Parkway South

    103 m · 5 sec · Waconia Parkway South

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Waconia Parkway South

    40 m · 3 sec · Waconia Parkway South

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto Waconia Parkway South

    1536 ft · 33 sec · Waconia Parkway South

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Waconia Parkway South

    36 m · 4 sec · Waconia Parkway South

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Waconia Parkway South

    1.3 km · 2 min · Waconia Parkway South

  17. 17

    Continue on West 13th Street

    2921 ft · 1 min · West 13th Street

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 284

    4 m · 1 sec · State Highway 284

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 284

    1278 ft · 26 sec · State Highway 284

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 284

    29 m · 2 sec · State Highway 284

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 284

    3.8 mi · 7 min · State Highway 284

  22. 22

    Continue on Benton Street West

    1668 ft · 34 sec · Benton Street West

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Paul Avenue North

    1823 ft · 42 sec · Paul Avenue North

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Lake Street East

    23 m · 2 sec · Lake Street East

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lake Street East

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Watertown and Cologne.

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
25 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
0 merges, 16 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
161.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
County Road 10
7.64 mi · 49%
State Highway 284
4.08 mi · 26%
Waconia Parkway South
1.2 mi · 8%
Waconia Parkway North
0.84 mi · 5%
West 13th Street
0.55 mi · 4%
Paul Avenue North
0.35 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

County Road 10

Continue on County Road 10

4.04 mi · 00h 06m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
13.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Maple
00h 12m from Watertown
Leave By
7:40 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Watertown and Sunny near Cologne.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Watertown to Cologne?

The road trip is about 15.5 miles (25 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Maple is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.8 miles from Watertown and 7.8 miles from Cologne.

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

The direct path is about 13.7 miles (22 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.96 one way or $3.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Watertown and Sunny near Cologne.

Stop Ideas Near Maple

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

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

RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

50 mi away
Midway Station
RAIL

St. Cloud

81 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Red Wing station

107 mi away
420 Levee Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watertown and Cologne. Straight-line distance: 13.65 mi (21.96 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Watertown

Township in Carver County, Minnesota

Population1,189
Coordinates44.9635700, -93.8471900
Altitude285
CountryUnited States
Cologne

#2 Cologne

City in Carver County, Minnesota, United States

Population1,860
Coordinates44.7716300, -93.7813500
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Start: Territorial Street East (-93.847158, 44.963603)
End: Lake Street East (-93.781349, 44.771601)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 25 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.55 gal
2.07 L · about $1.96
Round trip
$3.93
1.1 gal · 4.14 L
Estimated CO2
4.9 kg one way
Round trip: 9.8 kg / 22 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $1.96 $3.93
Mid-grade $3.92 $2.16 $4.31
Premium $4.39 $2.42 $4.83
Diesel $4.86 $2.68 $5.35

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Watertown and Cologne. The current time is 23:24:25.

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.