Trip from Prior Lake, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

Drive Time

1h 23m

Distance

81 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Prior Lake, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 81 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 13 South, US 169, US 169 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.38 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

40.5 miles from Prior Lake, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 23m drive with frequent turns across 81 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Highway 13 South is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 13 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 169	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 169 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 94 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
I-94 W	Unavailable	Refreshing
MnRoad Mainline	Unavailable	Refreshing
CR 7	Unavailable	Refreshing
Roosevelt Road	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Highway 13 South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on the route

2

Exit the roundabout onto Highway 13 South

3

Take the ramp slight left toward US 169, CH 101

4

Keep slight right to continue on US 169 North, CR 101: Shakopee

5

Take the exit slight right toward US 169 North

6

Merge slight left

7

Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West

8

Merge slight left

9

Continue on I-94 W

10

Keep slight right to continue on MnRoad Mainline

11

Take the exit slight right toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud

12

Keep slight left

13

Turn right onto Roosevelt Road

14

Turn right onto 22nd Street South

15

Turn left onto 11th Avenue South

16

Turn right onto 15th Street South

17

At the end of the road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South

18

Continue on 10th Avenue South

19

Turn right onto 1st Street North

20

At the end of the road, turn left onto Courthouse Square

21

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 40.5 miles from Prior Lake, MN, or about 41m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 40.5 miles or 41m 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 11m

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 Prior Lake, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Prior Lake, MN

This is one driving day of about 81 miles and 1h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Prior Lake, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Maple Grove, MN

41 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.5 mi from Prior Lake, MN

Avon, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maple Grove, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Prior Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.57	$11.38	$22.76
midgrade	$3.92	$12.50	$25.01
premium	$4.39	$14.01	$28.01
diesel	$4.86	$15.51	$31.02

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Prior Lake, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 81 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 13 South, US 169, US 169 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.5 miles from Prior Lake, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.38 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.

More trips from Prior Lake, MN

Prior Lake, MN to Lakeville, MN

11.1 mi 20m

More trips to Saint Cloud, MN

Afton, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

94.8 mi 1h 56m

Lake Elmo, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

82.1 mi 1h 24m

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