Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
77.3 mi
124 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 30m
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
If you are planning a trip from Saint Cloud to Birchwood, Minnesota, expect a straightforward journey covering 77.3 miles. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes of drive time for this trek across the Midwest. Given the manageable duration, this route works perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can anticipate spending about $11 on fuel for the entire distance. Since the route utilizes local roads like 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, and West Saint Germain Street, you will stay off the major interstates entirely. This trip is an ideal choice if you prefer local navigation over high-speed highway travel.
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
38.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that feels quite different from a standard interstate cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on navigating local streets rather than maintaining high speeds on a freeway. You will find yourself constantly adjusting to the flow of local traffic, as there is no single long stretch of road; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on 1st Street North. This character makes the journey feel more like a series of connected local segments than a singular open-road experience. Stay alert at intersections and be prepared for a drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street North 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 Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN is easy. At 1h 33m 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 Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 9th Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Saint Germain Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Memorial Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Roosevelt Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 120 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Century Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East County Line Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Street North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Birchwood, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
269 ft
·
14 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 1st Street North
217 ft
·
15 sec
·
1st Street North
3
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
400 ft
·
13 sec
·
9th Avenue North
4
Turn right onto West Saint Germain Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint Germain Street
5
Turn left onto Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Memorial Drive
6
Turn left onto Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Roosevelt Road
7
Take the ramp straight
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
8
Merge slight left
52 mi
·
57 min
9
Keep slight left
12 mi
·
12 min
10
Keep slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
11
Keep slight right
3.8 mi
·
4 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward MN 120: Century Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
MN 120: Century Avenue
13
Turn left onto North Century Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Century Avenue
14
Continue on East County Line Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East County Line Road
15
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Cedar Street
16
Continue on Cedar Street
299 ft
·
15 sec
·
Cedar Street
17
Turn right onto Wildwood Avenue
56 ft
·
9 sec
·
Wildwood Avenue
18
Turn left
92 ft
·
7 sec
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 1.5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Since there are 0 planned stops in the data, try to handle any refueling or personal breaks before you head out or once you arrive at your destination. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the heavy reliance on local roads like West Saint Germain Street means you will be making frequent turns throughout the journey. Carrying the estimated $11 in fuel costs is a smart baseline, though keeping a little extra for local traffic variations is always a good idea. Take advantage of the lack of highway monotony by staying refreshed and ready for the constant turns.
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 38.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 46m 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 77.3 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 46m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birchwood, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Cloud, 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 Saint Cloud, MN
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Cloud, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.7 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 77.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Birchwood, MN
The final approach into Birchwood, 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 Birchwood, 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
$11.06 one way
$22.11 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $11.93 | $23.87 |
| premium | $4.39 | $13.37 | $26.73 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.17 | $34.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.12 | $3.71 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.95 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Birchwood, MN
Afternoon in Birchwood on Sunday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
4 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 33m 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 Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, West Saint Germain Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.06 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.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN is easy. At 1h 33m 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 Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Birchwood, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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