Origin
Clara City, MN
Evening in Clara City on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
83.7 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clara City, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 83.7 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Avenue Southwest, 4th Street Southeast, 3rd Street Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.5 miles on 1st Avenue Southwest. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.46 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
41.8 miles from Clara City, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 46m drive with frequent turns across 83.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Avenue Southwest is the longest continuous segment at about 61.5 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 79.7 miles in near 10th Avenue South.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 79.7 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 80.7 miles (44th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 81.1 miles (3rd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
10th Avenue South
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
44th Avenue North
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
81.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
3rd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
2nd Street North
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
83.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Avenue Southwest | 61.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| 4th Street Southeast | 18 mi | 22m |
| 3rd Street Northeast | 2 mi | 3m |
| Division Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 44th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 10th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
1st Avenue Southwest
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clara City, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on MN 23
61 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
1st Avenue Southwest
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on MN 23
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
4th Street West
3
Continue on MN 23
18 mi
·
22 min
·
4th Street Southeast
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Avenue South
5
Turn right onto CR 75
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Division Street
6
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
44th Avenue North
7
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street Northeast
8
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
16 sec
·
16th Avenue North
9
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
10
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
11
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
12
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 41.8 miles from Clara City, MN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.8 miles or 51m 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 27m
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 Clara 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 Clara City, MN
This is one driving day of about 83.7 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clara City, 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 1st Avenue Southwest for about 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.8 mi from Clara City, MN · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.8 miles from Clara City, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 1st Avenue Southwest if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.5 miles.
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
$12.46 one way
$24.91 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.42 | $26.84 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.93 | $29.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.48 | $36.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Avon, MN
42 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
1h 46m 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 Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 83.7 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Avenue Southwest, 4th Street Southeast, 3rd Street Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.8 miles from Clara City, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.46 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 Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.7 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 80.7 miles (44th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 81.1 miles (3rd Street Northeast): Navigation decision point.
The route from Clara City, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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