Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Clara City, MN
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
83.8 mi
135 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Clara City, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Clara City, MN covers 83.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MN 23, US 71, 2nd Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.2 miles on MN 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.47 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
41.9 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 83.8 miles, with most of the trip on MN 23 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.2 miles on MN 23.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and US 71. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street North
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
16th Avenue North
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
6
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
MN 23 / 2nd Street South
Turn right onto MN 23 / 2nd Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 71; MN 23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 71; MN 23 toward US 71, MN 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 71, MN 23
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 23 | 36.2 mi | 43m |
| US 71 | 24.5 mi | 30m |
| 2nd Street South | 18 mi | 22m |
| 3rd Street North | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Division Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street Southwest | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| MN-15 S | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 36.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Clara City, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
3
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
4
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
16 sec
·
16th Avenue North
5
Turn left onto 3rd Street North
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street North
6
Turn left onto MN 15
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
MN-15 S
7
Turn right onto CR 75
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Division Street
8
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
10th Avenue South
9
Turn right onto MN 23
18 mi
·
22 min
·
2nd Street South
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MN 23
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
4th Street West
11
Continue on MN 23
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street Southwest
12
Continue on MN 23
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 23
13
Continue on MN 23
35 mi
·
42 min
·
MN 23
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 71; MN 23
25 mi
·
30 min
·
US 71; MN 23
Toward US 71, MN 23
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
MN 23
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 41.9 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 54m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clara City, 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 83.8 miles and 1h 46m.
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.
The longest stretch is on MN 23 for about 36.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.9 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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
Arriving in Clara City, MN
The final approach into Clara City, 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 Clara City, 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
$12.47 one way
$24.94 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.44 | $26.88 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.95 | $29.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.50 | $37.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.80 | $4.02 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.33 | $3.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.73 | $5.36 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Clara City, MN
Evening in Clara City on Tuesday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Avon, MN
42 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
23 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
1h 46m 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 Clara City, MN covers 83.8 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 23, US 71, 2nd Street South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.9 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 $12.47 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 83.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Clara City, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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