Origin
Grand Marais, MN
Late night in Grand Marais on Monday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
254.3 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 254.3 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway, Highway 61, 7th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.37 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
127.2 miles from Grand Marais, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 10m drive with frequent turns across 254.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broadway 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 10m 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 Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 61 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 23 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Courthouse Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Marais, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on West 1st Street
272 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Broadway
213 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Broadway
3
Turn sharp left onto West Highway 61
83 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
West Highway 61
4
Continue on 7th Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
7th Avenue
5
Continue on Highway 61
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Highway 61
6
Turn left
4.0 mi
·
5 min
7
Keep slight left
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
9
Continue on Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
10
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn left
1.7 mi
·
2 min
12
Turn right
33 mi
·
37 min
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
14
Exit the roundabout
15 mi
·
19 min
15
Turn right onto 7th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
7th Avenue South
16
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
223 ft
·
12 sec
·
Courthouse Square
17
Continue on Courthouse Square
364 ft
·
16 sec
·
Courthouse Square
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.2 miles from Grand Marais, MN, or about 2h 35m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.2 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
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 Grand Marais, 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 Grand Marais, MN
This is one driving day of about 254.3 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Grand Marais, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.2 mi from Grand Marais, MN · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 127.2 miles from Grand Marais, 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
$36.37 one way
$72.75 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $39.26 | $78.51 |
| premium | $4.39 | $43.97 | $87.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $56.50 | $112.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.70 | $12.21 |
| Efficient EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.25 | $10.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.7 | 1 | $35.60 | $16.28 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night in Saint Cloud on Monday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
38 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
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 254.3 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broadway, Highway 61, 7th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.2 miles from Grand Marais, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Grand Marais, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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