Commute · Downtown Saint Paul
Living in Gem Lake and commuting to downtown Saint Paul
Gem Lake is about 21 minutes from downtown Saint Paul by car in light traffic, the 25th shortest drive of the 149 cities in our guides.
- Drive to downtown Saint Paul21 minlight traffic, from the city center
- Rank25thshortest of 149 cities
- Median sale price—12 months through September 2026
- Average commute19.4 minresidents, all destinations (Census)
Shorter drives to downtown Saint Paul at a similar price
Cities with a shorter drive where homes sold for no more than 15% above Gem Lake's median.
| City | Drive | Median sale price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arden Hills | 20 min | $457,500 | Gem Lake vs. Arden Hills |
| White Bear Lake | 19 min | $365,000 | Gem Lake vs. White Bear Lake |
| Shoreview | 19 min | $404,500 | Gem Lake vs. Shoreview |
| New Brighton | 19 min | $390,250 | Gem Lake vs. New Brighton |
| Vadnais Heights | 18 min | $371,000 | Gem Lake vs. Vadnais Heights |
| Oakdale | 18 min | $329,900 | Gem Lake vs. Oakdale |
Other drives from Gem Lake
- Downtown Minneapolis30 min
- MSP Airport33 min
- University of Minnesota27 min
- Mall of America37 min
Drive times are light-traffic estimates from each city’s center (OpenStreetMap routing). Your trip depends on your address and the time of day; allow more at rush hour.
Gem Lake community guideGem Lake market reportGem Lake homes for saleEvery city by drive to downtown Saint Paul
Quick answers
Gem Lake to downtown Saint Paul
How long is the drive from Gem Lake to downtown Saint Paul?
About 21 minutes in light traffic from the center of Gem Lake, roughly 9 miles in a straight line. Rush hour and your exact address can add time.
How long is the average commute in Gem Lake?
19.4 minutes each way, the average travel time to work for Gem Lake residents in the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), to all destinations.
Which cities have a shorter drive to downtown Saint Paul at a similar price?
Arden Hills (20 minutes, median $457,500), White Bear Lake (19 minutes, median $365,000), Shoreview (19 minutes, median $404,500), New Brighton (19 minutes, median $390,250), among cities in our guides with at least 30 sales over the 12 months through September 2026.
Shorter commute, right home
Find a home that makes the drive easy.
Tell us where you need to be each day and your budget. A Huerkamp Home Group agent will send homes that fit both, and tell you how the drive really feels at rush hour. There's no cost to buyers.