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Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Tracy, MN

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

151.5 mi

244 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 3m ★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m

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

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

Saint Cloud, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Tracy, MN, MN

Tracy, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Tracy, MN covers 151.5 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 71, MN 23, State Highway 23/67 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.6 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.55 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

75.8 miles from Saint Cloud, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 3h 15m highway drive covering 151.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 71 and MN 23. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.6 miles on US 71.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and MN 23. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 8th Avenue North

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 2nd Street North

Turn left onto 2nd Street North

Navigation decision point

4
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | 16th Avenue North

Turn right onto 16th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

6
4 mi into trip | ~8m in | MN 23 / 2nd Street South

Turn right onto MN 23 / 2nd Street South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
59.3 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | US 71; MN 23

Keep slight left at fork onto US 71; MN 23 toward US 71, MN 23

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 71, MN 23

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 71 38.6 mi 48m
MN 23 36.2 mi 43m
State Highway 23/67 29.6 mi 37m
2nd Street South 18 mi 22m
US Highway 59 14 mi 18m
US Highway 14 6 mi 7m
US 212 3.2 mi 4m
3rd Street North 1.6 mi 3m
Longest stretch: US 71 — 38.6 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Courthouse Square

7 ft · 2 sec · Courthouse Square
2

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

253 ft · 16 sec · 8th Avenue North
3

Turn left onto 2nd Street North

0.5 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street North
4

Turn right onto 16th Avenue North

407 ft · 16 sec · 16th Avenue North
5

Turn left onto 3rd Street North

1.6 mi · 3 min · 3rd Street North
6

Turn left onto MN 15

0.4 mi · 36 sec · MN-15 S
7

Turn right onto CR 75

1.2 mi · 1 min · Division Street
8

Turn left onto 10th Avenue South

0.3 mi · 34 sec · 10th Avenue South
9

Turn right onto MN 23

18 mi · 22 min · 2nd Street South
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on MN 23

0.1 mi · 12 sec · 4th Street West
11

Continue on MN 23

0.9 mi · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest
12

Continue on MN 23

1.1 mi · 1 min · MN 23
13

Continue on MN 23

35 mi · 42 min · MN 23
Use the straight lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto US 71; MN 23

39 mi · 48 min · US 71; MN 23
Toward US 71, MN 23 Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15

Turn right onto US 212; MN 23

3.2 mi · 4 min · US 212; MN 23
16

Turn left onto MN 23; MN 67

30 mi · 37 min · State Highway 23/67
17

Turn left onto US 59

14 mi · 18 min · US Highway 59
18

Turn left onto US 14

6.0 mi · 7 min · US Highway 14
19

Turn right onto 330th Avenue

84 ft · 4 sec · 330th Avenue
20

Turn left onto CR 28

0.8 mi · 2 min · South Street
21

Turn left onto 3rd Street

502 ft · 21 sec · 3rd Street
22

Arrive at destination

3rd Street

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 75.8 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.6 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tracy, 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 151.5 miles and 3h 15m.

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.
The longest stretch is on US 71 for about 38.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.8 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 1h 36m into the drive

city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avon, MN

76 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

Avon, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avon, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.8 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tracy, MN

The final approach into Tracy, 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 Tracy, 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

$22.55 one way

$45.09 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $24.29 $48.59
premium $4.53 $27.03 $54.06
diesel $5.61 $33.45 $66.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.4 0 $15.91 $7.27
Efficient EV 37.9 0 $13.26 $6.06
EV Truck/SUV 60.6 0 $21.21 $9.70

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Evening in Saint Cloud on Tuesday

Local time

6:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tracy, MN

Evening in Tracy on Tuesday

Local time

6:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

37°F

Avon, MN

76 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 15m 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 Tracy, MN covers 151.5 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, MN 23, State Highway 23/67. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.8 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 $22.55 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 151.5 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Tracy, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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