Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Thursday
Local time
1:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Lake, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 41m
Distance
138.1 mi
222 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 31m
★
6 AM
2h 41m
8 AM
3h 2m
10 AM
2h 49m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 50m
5 PM
3h 1m
8 PM
2h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Lake, MN covers 138.1 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 8th Avenue North, 2nd Street North, 1st Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.55 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
69.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 138.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 41m drive with frequent turns across 138.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th Avenue 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Lake, MN is easy. At 2h 41m 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 Grand Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Avenue North | — | — |
| 2nd Street North | — | — |
| 1st Street North | — | — |
| 5th Avenue North | — | — |
| 2nd Street South | — | — |
| Granite City Crossing | — | — |
| 3rd Street Southeast | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
8th Avenue North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Grand Lake, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
3
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
394 ft
·
10 sec
·
2nd Street North
4
Continue on 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
1st Street North
5
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
5th Avenue North
6
Turn left onto 2nd Street South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
2nd Street South
7
Continue on Granite City Crossing
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Granite City Crossing
8
Continue on 3rd Street Southeast
15 mi
·
18 min
·
3rd Street Southeast
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
10
Exit the roundabout
33 mi
·
37 min
11
Turn left
1.6 mi
·
2 min
12
Continue on Forest Avenue East
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Forest Avenue East
13
Take the exit left toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Interstate 35 North: Duluth
14
Continue straight
21 mi
·
22 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
17
Exit the roundabout
13 mi
·
17 min
18
Take the exit right
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
19
Turn right onto Saginaw Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Saginaw Road
20
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 69.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 1h 20m 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Lake, 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 138.1 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Saint Cloud, 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 69.1 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Grand Lake, MN
The final approach into Grand Lake, 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 Grand Lake, 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
$20.55 one way
$41.10 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $22.14 | $44.29 |
| premium | $4.53 | $24.64 | $49.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.49 | $60.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.50 | $6.63 |
| Efficient EV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.08 | $5.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.33 | $8.84 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Grand Lake, MN
Afternoon in Grand Lake on Thursday
Local time
1:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°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
30 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 41m 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 Grand Lake, MN covers 138.1 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Avenue North, 2nd Street North, 1st Street North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.1 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 $20.55 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 Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Lake, MN is easy. At 2h 41m 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 Grand Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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