Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Monday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to La Crescent, MN
Drive Time
4h 23m
Distance
224.1 mi
361 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 10m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 33m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 49m
8 PM
4h 15m
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
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to La Crescent, MN covers 224.1 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, West Saint Germain Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 23m drive with frequent turns across 224.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to La Crescent, 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 |
| Voyageur Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 52 | 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 La Crescent, 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 right to continue on Voyageur Highway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Voyageur Highway
11
Keep slight left to continue on US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 52
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 52
13
Merge slight left onto Lafayette Freeway
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Lafayette Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Rochester
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Rochester
15
Take the exit slight right toward CR 24: Cannon Falls
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CR 24: Cannon Falls
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County 24 Boulevard
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
County 24 Boulevard
17
Exit the roundabout onto County 24 Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
County 24 Boulevard
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County 14 Boulevard
220 ft
·
6 sec
·
County 14 Boulevard
19
Exit the roundabout onto County 14 Boulevard
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
County 14 Boulevard
20
Turn left onto County 9 Boulevard
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County 9 Boulevard
21
Take the ramp left toward US 52 South
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 52 South
22
Merge slight left
17 mi
·
19 min
23
Continue straight
27 mi
·
31 min
24
Turn left onto I 90 East: La Crosse
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 90 East: La Crosse
25
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr
26
Keep slight right
2.6 mi
·
3 min
27
Turn slight right onto Main Street
479 ft
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
28
Turn right onto Main Street
318 ft
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
29
Turn left onto South Walnut Street
384 ft
·
19 sec
·
South Walnut Street
30
Turn right onto South 1st Street
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 1st Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 2h 11m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crescent, 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 224.1 miles and 4h 23m.
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.
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 112 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Crescent, MN
The final approach into La Crescent, 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 La Crescent, 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
$32.05 one way
$64.11 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $34.59 | $69.19 |
| premium | $4.39 | $38.75 | $77.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.79 | $99.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.53 | $10.76 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.61 | $8.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.6 | 1 | $31.37 | $14.34 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
La Crescent, MN
Afternoon in La Crescent on Monday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
8 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
4h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 La Crescent, MN covers 224.1 miles and takes about 4h 23m 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 112 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 $32.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to La Crescent, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to La Crescent, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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