Origin
Circle Pines, MN
Late night in Circle Pines on Wednesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Circle Pines, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
66.5 mi
107 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 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Circle Pines, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Circle Pines, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 66.5 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, MN-610, I-94 W 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 $9.90 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
33.2 miles from Circle Pines, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 66.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and MN-610. 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 22 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.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN-610. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 66.5 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 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
|
CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Turn right onto CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 30
Toward US 10 West
6
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MN 610 / MN-610
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m 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
66.4 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 Circle Pines, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
61 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
61 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 28.6 mi | 30m |
| MN-610 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I-94 W | 12.6 mi | 13m |
| US 10 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 28.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Circle Pines, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Crossway Drive
329 ft
·
14 sec
·
Crossway Drive
2
Turn right onto Pine Drive
287 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pine Drive
3
Turn right onto CH 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W South
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 35W
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 30
Toward US 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 10
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN-610
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 94
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I-94 W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 94
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
13
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
14
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
15
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
16
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
17
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
18
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
19
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
10th Avenue South
20
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
21
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
22
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 33.2 miles from Circle Pines, MN, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 66.5 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 39m 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 4m
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 Circle Pines, 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 Circle Pines, MN
This is one driving day of about 66.5 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Circle Pines, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 28.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.2 mi from Circle Pines, 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 66.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Circle Pines, 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.
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
$9.90 one way
$19.79 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.87 | $23.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.68 | $29.36 |
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: 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 | $6.98 | $3.19 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.31 | $4.26 |
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
Late night in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
38°F
Albertville, MN
33 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
4 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 Circle Pines, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 66.5 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, MN-610, I-94 W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.2 miles from Circle Pines, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.90 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 18 significant decision points across 66.5 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Circle Pines, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Saint Cloud, MN
Explore more options from Circle Pines, MN or browse trips ending in Saint Cloud, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Circle Pines, MN or Saint Cloud, MN on MapSof.net.