Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
85.7 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 85.7 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cedar Avenue, I 494 West, I 94 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 85.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cedar Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 25m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Avenue | — | — |
| I 494 West | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| CR 7 | — | — |
| Roosevelt Road | — | — |
| 22nd Street South | — | — |
| 11th Avenue South | — | — |
| 15th Street South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Cedar Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on County Road 42
36 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto Cedar Avenue
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Cedar Avenue
3
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 494 West, MN 5 West
4
Merge slight left
8.8 mi
·
11 min
5
Keep slight left
16 mi
·
19 min
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Saint Cloud
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 94 West: Saint Cloud
7
Continue straight
17 mi
·
18 min
8
Keep slight left
29 mi
·
30 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
10
Keep slight right
522 ft
·
13 sec
11
Turn straight onto Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
12
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
128 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
13
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
14
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
15
At the end of the road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
16
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
10th Avenue South
17
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
269 ft
·
12 sec
·
Courthouse Square
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN, or about 42m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Apple Valley, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apple Valley, MN
This is one driving day of about 85.7 miles and 1h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Apple Valley, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.8 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Cloud, MN
The final approach into Saint Cloud, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.75 one way
$25.51 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.74 | $27.48 |
| premium | $4.53 | $15.29 | $30.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.92 | $37.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.48 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 85.7 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cedar Avenue, I 494 West, I 94 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.8 miles from Apple Valley, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 25m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Apple Valley, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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