Origin
La Crescent, MN
Afternoon in La Crescent on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crescent, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
220.6 mi
355 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crescent, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crescent, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 220.6 miles and takes about 4h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 52, I 90, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.1 miles on US 52. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.83 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
110.3 miles from La Crescent, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 52 | 85.1 mi | 1h 40m |
| I 90 | 52.6 mi | 56m |
| I 94 | 28.8 mi | 30m |
| US 10 | 24 mi | 29m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| US 14 | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 85.1 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crescent, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on South 1st Street
54 ft
·
7 sec
·
South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
South Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
458 ft
·
20 sec
·
North 2nd Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; US 61
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
US 14; US 61
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
53 mi
·
56 min
·
I 90
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 218
Toward US 52: Rochester
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward US 52 North: Rochester
8
Merge onto US 52
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
US 52
9
Continue on US 52; US 63
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 52; US 63
10
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 52
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
US 52
Toward US 52 North: Saint Paul
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 52
14
Merge onto I 94; US 10
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 94; US 10
15
Take the exit onto US 10
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
US 10
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 10
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 10
19 mi
·
22 min
·
US 10
Exit 113
Toward I 694 West, US 10 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 94
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
21
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
22
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
23
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
24
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
25
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
26
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
27
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
10th Avenue South
28
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
29
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
30
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
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 110.3 miles from La Crescent, MN, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.1 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 49 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
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 La Crescent, 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 La Crescent, MN
This is one driving day of about 220.6 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from La Crescent, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 52 for about 85.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.3 miles from La Crescent, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 52 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 135.3 and 220.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
135.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
|
US 52
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 toward US 52 North: Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 North: Saint Paul
8
145.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
150.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
6
215.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m 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
220.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
|
Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.83 one way
$65.66 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $35.37 | $70.75 |
| premium | $4.53 | $39.36 | $78.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.71 | $97.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.16 | $10.59 |
| Efficient EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.30 | $8.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.2 | 1 | $30.88 | $14.12 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
12:49 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
220.6 mi in 4h 18m, mostly highway — 85.1 mi of that is on US 52.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.1 mi on US 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 135.3 miles in near US 52.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 220.6 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 135.3 miles (US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,271 ft
686 ft
Total Climb
759 ft
Total Descent
408 ft
Highest Point
1,271 ft
~15.8 mi in
Elevation Range
585 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 220.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.1 miles on US 52. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Cloud, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 135.3 miles (US 52): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Cloud, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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