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 Minneapolis, MN
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
66.6 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
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
Connecting Saint Cloud to Minneapolis is a straightforward 66.6-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. Because the distance is so manageable, this route is perfect for a quick one-day excursion rather than an overnight journey. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly way to travel between these two Midwest hubs. The path relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a direct and efficient transit. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the brevity of this drive allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
33.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your journey—specifically 58.4 miles—cruising along I-94. The remainder of the route transitions through Roosevelt Road and Washington Memorial Drive as you navigate into your destination. Expect a steady, predictable pace rather than technical twists or turns. It is a functional, efficient stretch of pavement that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 58.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Roosevelt Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.9 miles in near I 94.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 66.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 57.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
64.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Street North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 4th Street North
7
65.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 2nd Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
Toward 2nd Avenue North
6
65.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 152 / North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 58.4 mi | 1h 4m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Washington Memorial Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Germain Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 58.4 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Minneapolis, 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward 4th Street North
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward 2nd Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
14
Turn right onto CR 152
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on CR 152
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 152
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. However, keeping an eye on traffic patterns as you approach the Minneapolis metro area can help you avoid congestion during peak hours. Because the entire 66.6-mile stretch is quite brief, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, though filling your tank before you leave Saint Cloud will easily cover the $10 fuel estimate. Use the extended 58.4-mile stretch on I-94 to maintain a consistent speed, but stay alert for the transition onto local roads as you reach your final destination.
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 33.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.4 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 66.6 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.3 miles or 41m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, 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 66.6 miles and 1h 22m.
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 I 94 for about 58.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.3 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 66.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Minneapolis, MN
The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, 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
$9.53 one way
$19.05 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $10.28 | $20.56 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.52 | $23.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.80 | $29.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $6.99 | $3.20 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.32 | $4.26 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Minneapolis, MN
Afternoon in Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
27 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 22m 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 Minneapolis, MN covers 66.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, Roosevelt Road, Washington Memorial Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.3 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 $9.53 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 66.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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