Origin
Lakeland, MN
Afternoon in Lakeland on Friday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
91.3 mi
147 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakeland, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 694, I 94, I-94 W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.9 miles on I 694. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.59 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.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Lakeland, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 91.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 694 and I 94. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.9 miles on I 694.
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 694 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 694 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail North.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail North
Enter roundabout onto CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint Paul
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Sain...
8
9.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 694 North, I 494 South
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 249
Toward I 694 North, I 494 South
7
9.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 694 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 694 North
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakeland, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
85.8 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
85.8 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 694 | 29.9 mi | 37m |
| I 94 | 28.6 mi | 30m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 10th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 29.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Quinnell Avenue North
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
Quinnell Avenue North
2
Turn left onto 5th Street North
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street North
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
1 ft
·
0 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
4
Continue on CH 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left
8.8 mi
·
9 min
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint Paul
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 249
Toward I 694 North, I 494 South
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 694 North
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 694
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 694
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I-94 W
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the straight / left 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 45.7 miles from Lakeland, MN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 56m 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 28m
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 Lakeland, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeland, MN
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Lakeland, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 694 for about 29.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.7 mi from Lakeland, MN · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Lakeland, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.59 one way
$27.17 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $14.64 | $29.28 |
| premium | $4.53 | $16.29 | $32.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.16 | $40.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.78 | $5.84 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Friday
Local time
4:01 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
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 51m 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 Lakeland, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 694, I 94, 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 45.7 miles from Lakeland, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.59 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CH 18 / Saint Croix Trail North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lakeland, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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