Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Rice Lake, MN

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h 58m

Distance

181.4 mi

292 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 45m ★

6 AM

3h 58m

8 AM

4h 24m

10 AM

4h 7m

12 PM

4h 5m

3 PM

4h 8m

5 PM

4h 23m

8 PM

3h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Saint Cloud, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Rice Lake, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Rice Lake, MN covers 181.4 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.1 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.00 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

90.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 181.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 58m highway drive covering 181.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.1 miles on US 10.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and State Highway 64 Southwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 8th Avenue North

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 2nd Street North

Turn right onto 2nd Street North

Navigation decision point

33.9 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

180 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in | CR 35 / County Highway 35

At end of road, turn left onto CR 35 / County Highway 35

Navigation decision point

181.4 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | CR 35 / Lower Rice Lake Road

At end of road, turn left onto CR 35 / Lower Rice Lake Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 10	64.1 mi	1h 13m
State Highway 64 Southwest	33.7 mi	42m
State 64	28.6 mi	35m
US 71	13.9 mi	17m
County Highway 2	9.3 mi	12m
Upper Rice Lake Road	8.3 mi	11m
County Highway 35	7.3 mi	17m
State Highway 200	6.8 mi	9m

Longest stretch: US 10 — 64.1 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Rice Lake, MN.

Start on Courthouse Square

7 ft · 2 sec · Courthouse Square

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

253 ft · 13 sec · 8th Avenue North

Turn right onto 2nd Street North

393 ft · 9 sec · 2nd Street North

Continue on 1st Street North

0.2 mi · 27 sec · 1st Street North

Continue on Veterans Bridge

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Veterans Bridge

Continue on East Saint Germain Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Saint Germain Street

Turn left onto US 10

33 mi · 38 min · US 10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

32 mi · 35 min · US 10

Turn right onto MN 210

0.3 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 210

Turn left onto MN 64

34 mi · 42 min · State Highway 64 Southwest

At end of road, turn left onto MN 64; MN 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64

Continue on MN 64; MN 87

13 mi · 16 min · State 64

Continue on MN 64

0.9 mi · 1 min · Marie Avenue Southeast

Turn right onto MN 34; MN 64

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Broadway Street East

Turn left onto MN 64

16 mi · 19 min · State 64

At end of road, turn left onto MN 200

4.6 mi · 5 min · State Highway 200

Turn left onto US 71; MN 200

14 mi · 17 min · US 71; MN 200

Turn right onto MN 200

4.3 mi · 7 min · State 200

Continue on MN 200

2.2 mi · 3 min · State Highway 200

Turn right onto CR 2

9.3 mi · 12 min · County Highway 2

Turn left onto Upper Rice Lake Road

8.3 mi · 11 min · Upper Rice Lake Road

Turn right onto MN 92

1.0 mi · 1 min · Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway

Turn left onto CR 35

5.9 mi · 14 min · County Highway 35

At end of road, turn left onto CR 35

1.4 mi · 3 min · County Highway 35

At end of road, turn left onto CR 35

76 ft · 2 sec · Lower Rice Lake Road

Arrive at destination

CR 35

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 90.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 1h 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.1 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 40 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 90.7 miles or 1h 48m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rice 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 181.4 miles and 3h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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.

The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 64.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 90.7 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 1h 48m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sylvan, MN

91 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

Little Falls, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pequot Lakes, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 90.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.1 miles.

Arriving in Rice Lake, MN

The final approach into Rice 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 Rice 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

$27.00 one way

$53.99 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.07	$29.09	$58.18
premium	$4.53	$32.37	$64.73
diesel	$5.61	$40.05	$80.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 63.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	54.4	$19.05	$8.71
Efficient EV	45.4	$15.87	$7.26
EV Truck/SUV	72.6	$25.40	$11.61

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 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

Evening in Saint Cloud on Thursday

Local time

8:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Sunny

S 10 to 15 mph 1% chance Live 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

Destination

Rice Lake, MN

Evening in Rice Lake on Thursday

Local time

8:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Sunny

S 15 mph 7% chance Live 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

66°F

Sylvan, MN

91 mi in

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

3 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

3h 58m 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 Rice Lake, MN covers 181.4 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 10, State Highway 64 Southwest, State 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 90.7 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 $27.00 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Rice Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Saint Cloud, MN

International Falls, MN 265.4 mi · 5h 29m Baudette, MN 255.3 mi · 5h 21m Thief River Falls, MN 230.7 mi · 4h 26m Lake City, MN 137.6 mi · 2h 53m Detroit Lakes, MN 135.7 mi · 2h 38m Cottonwood, MN 116.7 mi · 2h 29m

More trips to Rice Lake, MN

Eden Prairie, MN 247.5 mi

Weekend drives from Saint Cloud, MN Scenic drives in MN

Explore more options from Saint Cloud, MN or browse trips ending in Rice Lake, MN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.

Explore maps for Saint Cloud, MN or Rice Lake, MN on MapSof.net.