The drive from Cannon City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m 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 35 Business, I 494 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.2 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.49 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.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Cannon City, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 117.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 35 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.2 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 26 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 45.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 35 Business. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near I 35 Business.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 117.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.8 mi into trip|~15m in|I 35 Business
Take the exit onto I 35 Business toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
6
35 mi into trip|~46m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
43.3 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
43.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
45.2 mi
48m
I 35 Business
29.2 mi
31m
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
I 35W
8.3 mi
9m
Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
4m
14th Street Northeast
1.8 mi
4m
Cagger Trail
1.4 mi
5m
20th Street Northwest
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cannon City, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on CR 20
0.6 mi·1 min·Cannon City Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Cagger Trail
1.4 mi·5 min·Cagger Trail
3
Continue on 14th Street Northeast
1.8 mi·4 min·14th Street Northeast
4
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue Northwest
0.4 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue Northwest
5
Turn left onto MN 3
0.9 mi·1 min·20th Street Northwest
6
Turn right onto I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate
0.7 mi·1 min·Lyndale Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto I 35 Business
29 mi·31 min·I 35 Business
Toward I 35 North: MinneapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
8.3 mi·9 min·I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 8B-CToward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
11
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi·7 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi·19 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 171Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
17
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft·12 sec
18
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi·4 min·Roosevelt Road
19
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft·7 sec·22nd Street South
20
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·11th Avenue South
21
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi·22 sec·15th Street South
22
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·9th Avenue South
23
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·10th Avenue South
24
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi·29 sec·1st Street North
25
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
26
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
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 58.8 miles from Cannon City, MN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 miles.
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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 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 1h 58m
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 Cannon City, 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 Cannon City, MN
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Cannon City, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 45.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Cannon City, MN
· 1h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.49 one way
$34.97 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$18.84
$37.68
premium
$4.53
$20.96
$41.93
diesel
$5.61
$25.94
$51.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cannon City, MN
Morning
in Cannon City on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Morning
in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Plymouth, MN
59 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
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 27m 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 Cannon City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 35 Business, I 494. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Cannon City, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.49 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 is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 117.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 35 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cannon City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
