Origin
Carlos, MN
Afternoon in Carlos on Wednesday
Local time
12:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
70.5 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlos, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Douglas Avenue, County Road 9 Northeast, Nelson Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.49 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.3 miles from Carlos, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 37m drive with frequent turns across 70.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Douglas 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 Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 9 Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nelson Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 82 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Nokomis Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR 75 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Douglas Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlos, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street
69 ft
·
7 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Douglas Avenue
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Douglas Avenue
3
Continue on County Road 9 Northeast
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 9 Northeast
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 9 Northeast
4.1 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 9 Northeast
5
Continue on Nelson Street North
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Nelson Street North
6
Turn left onto Douglas County Highway 82
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Douglas County Highway 82
7
Continue on West Nokomis Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Nokomis Street
8
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue East
9
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 27
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 27
10
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
11
Merge slight left
43 mi
·
46 min
12
Take the exit slight left toward CR 75: Saint Cloud
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
CR 75: Saint Cloud
13
Continue on County Road 75
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road 75
14
Continue on Division Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
15
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
44th Avenue North
16
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street Northeast
17
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
17 sec
·
16th Avenue North
18
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
19
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
20
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
Courthouse Square
21
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 35.3 miles from Carlos, MN, or about 48m 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 70.5 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 miles or 48m 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 22m
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 Carlos, 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 Carlos, MN
This is one driving day of about 70.5 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carlos, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.3 mi from Carlos, MN · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.98 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
| premium | $4.53 | $12.58 | $25.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.87 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
12:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Avon, MN
35 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
1 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
1h 37m 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 Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Douglas Avenue, County Road 9 Northeast, Nelson Street North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.3 miles from Carlos, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.49 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.
The drive from Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carlos, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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