Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
224.9 mi
362 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Babbitt, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 224.9 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Babbitt Road, Highway 70, Ely-Babbitt Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.4 miles from Babbitt, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 32m drive with frequent turns across 224.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Babbitt, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babbitt Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 70 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ely-Babbitt Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 21 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 169 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 53 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Speaker Irvin N | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Babbitt, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
Start on South Drive
Turn right onto Babbitt Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto County Highway 70
Continue on Ely-Babbitt Road
Continue on Highway 21
Continue on County Highway 21
Continue on Highway 21
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 169
Keep slight left to continue on US 53 South: Virginia
Continue on US 53 South: Virginia
Merge slight left onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Continue straight
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Take the exit slight right
Continue straight
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South
Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
Continue on Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
Continue straight
Turn left
Turn right
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Turn right onto 7th Avenue South
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
Continue on Courthouse Square
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.4 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Babbitt, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Babbitt, MN
This is one driving day of about 224.9 miles and 4h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.4 mi from Babbitt, MN · 2h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.4 miles from Babbitt, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Cloud, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.17 one way
$64.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $34.72 | $69.44 |
| premium | $4.39 | $38.89 | $77.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.96 | $99.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.61 | $10.80 |
| Efficient EV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.68 | $9.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90 | 1 | $31.49 | $14.39 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Babbitt on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
29°F
Cloquet, MN
112 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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