Origin
Mankato, MN
Afternoon in Mankato on Monday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
119 mi
192 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mankato, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Carroll Street, South Front Street, Lamm Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.02 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.5 miles from Mankato, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 38m drive with frequent turns across 119 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Carroll Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carroll Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Front Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lamm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Riverfront Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lookout Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 15 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 15 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Carroll Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mankato, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Van Brunt Street
240 ft
·
13 sec
·
Van Brunt Street
2
Turn right onto Carroll Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Carroll Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Front Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Front Street
4
Turn right onto Lamm Street
148 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lamm Street
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Riverfront Drive
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Riverfront Drive
6
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
7
Merge slight left
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
8
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
9
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
10
Continue on Lookout Drive
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Lookout Drive
11
Turn slight left onto Lookout Drive
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Lookout Drive
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
13
Merge slight left
23 mi
·
26 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward MN 15 North
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
MN 15 North
15
Merge slight left onto State Highway 15
38 mi
·
48 min
·
State Highway 15
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 15
118 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 15
17
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 15
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 15
18
Continue on Main Street South
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street South
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street North
105 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street North
20
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street North
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Street North
21
Continue on State Highway 15
47 mi
·
1 hr
·
State Highway 15
22
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street North
23
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
17 sec
·
16th Avenue North
24
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
25
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
26
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
Courthouse Square
27
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.5 miles from Mankato, MN, or about 1h 19m 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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.5 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
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 Mankato, 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 Mankato, MN
This is one driving day of about 119 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mankato, 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 59.5 mi from Mankato, MN · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 59.5 miles from Mankato, 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
$17.02 one way
$34.04 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $18.37 | $36.74 |
| premium | $4.39 | $20.58 | $41.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.44 | $52.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.49 | $5.71 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.41 | $4.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 Monday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Albertville, MN
60 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
6 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
2h 38m 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 Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 119 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Carroll Street, South Front Street, Lamm Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.5 miles from Mankato, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.02 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mankato, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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