Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Columbia Heights, MN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
63.1 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia Heights, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Columbia Heights, MN covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, Roosevelt Road, University Avenue Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.3 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.39 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
31.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 16m highway drive covering 63.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and Roosevelt Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.3 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 52.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Roosevelt Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street North.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (1st Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street North
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Avenue North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MN 47: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward MN 47: University Avenue
8
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 47
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 47
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 52.3 mi | 57m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| University Avenue Northeast | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| I 694 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Washington Memorial Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Germain Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 9th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Courthouse Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 52.3 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Columbia Heights, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
13 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 1st Street North
215 ft
·
14 sec
·
1st Street North
3
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
399 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 CR 75
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Roosevelt Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
8
Merge onto I 94
52 mi
·
57 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 694
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 37
Toward MN 47: University Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward MN 47
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto MN 47
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
University Avenue Northeast
13
Continue on MN 47
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
University Avenue Northeast
14
Arrive at destination
MN 47
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 31.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 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 14 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.6 miles or 39m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia Heights, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Cloud, MN
This is one driving day of about 63.1 miles and 1h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Saint Cloud, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 52.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia Heights, MN
The final approach into Columbia Heights, 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
$9.39 one way
$18.78 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.12 | $20.24 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.93 | $27.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Columbia Heights, MN
Evening in Columbia Heights on Wednesday
Local time
5:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
32 mi in
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 16m 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 Columbia Heights, MN covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, Roosevelt Road, University Avenue Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.6 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 $9.39 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 63.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (1st Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Columbia Heights, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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