The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to North Saint Paul, MN covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I 694, Roosevelt Road 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 $11.40 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.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 76.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 31m highway drive covering 76.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 694. 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 17 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 I 694. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street North.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These 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
6
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward MN 120: Century Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward MN 120: Century Avenue
6
75 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|MN 120 / North Century Avenue
Turn right onto MN 120 / North Century Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
52.3 mi
57m
I 694
16.8 mi
19m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
Geneva Avenue North
0.9 mi
1m
Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
1m
West Saint Germain Street
0.5 mi
1m
7th Avenue East
0.4 mi
1m
Division Street
0.2 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 North Saint Paul, 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
12 mi·12 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
1.3 mi·1 min·I 694
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
3.8 mi·4 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 51Toward MN 120: Century AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto MN 120
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Century Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on MN 120
0.9 mi·1 min·Geneva Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on MN 120
0.2 mi·19 sec·Division Street
16
Turn right onto 7th Avenue East
0.4 mi·1 min·7th Avenue East
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
7th Avenue East
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 38.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 47m 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 47m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Saint Paul, 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 76.6 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 38.3 mi from Saint Cloud, MN
· 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Saint Paul, MN
The final approach into North Saint Paul, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rogers, Minnesota
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 43.8
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.40 one way
$22.80 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$12.28
$24.57
premium
$4.53
$13.67
$27.33
diesel
$5.61
$16.91
$33.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.70
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Friday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Saint Paul, MN
Late night
in North Saint Paul on Friday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
SSE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:02PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 11:43AM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
12 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 31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 North Saint Paul, MN covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 694, Roosevelt Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.3 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 $11.40 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 76.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to North Saint Paul, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
