Origin
Arden Hills, MN
Morning in Arden Hills on Friday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arden Hills, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
66.7 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arden Hills, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arden Hills, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I-94 W, I 694 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 66.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 66.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I-94 W. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.6 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,037 ft
855 ft
Total Climb
300 ft
Total Descent
185 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
~66.7 mi in
Elevation Range
182 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I-94 W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward MN 51 North
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward MN 51 North
6
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 694 West
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 694
Merge onto I 694
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
6
66.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arden Hills, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
61.2 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
61.2 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 28.6 mi | 30m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| I 694 | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Hamline Avenue North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 10th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 28.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arden Hills, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on CH 15
341 ft
·
16 sec
·
West County Road E
2
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward MN 51 North
3
Merge onto MN 51
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamline Avenue North
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 694 West
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 694
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 94
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
9
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
10
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
11
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
12
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
13
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
14
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
15
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
10th Avenue South
16
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
17
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
18
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.3 mi from Arden Hills, MN · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Arden Hills, 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
$9.93 one way
$19.85 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.70 | $21.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.73 | $29.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning in Saint Cloud on Friday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
5 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 20m 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 Arden Hills, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I-94 W, I 694. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.3 miles from Arden Hills, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.93 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Arden Hills, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 855 ft to 1,037 ft elevation with about 300 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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