Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Waconia, MN

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

66.3 mi

107 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 28m ★

6 AM

1h 35m

8 AM

1h 50m

10 AM

1h 40m

12 PM

1h 39m

3 PM

1h 41m

5 PM

1h 49m

8 PM

1h 31m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Cloud, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Waconia, MN covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, State Highway 25, County Road 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.1 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.48 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

33.2 miles from Saint Cloud, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 66.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and State Highway 25. The longest continuous stretch is about 22.1 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 43 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 22.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 25. 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.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 66.3 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 0.1 miles (1st Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 28.1 miles (MN 25 / State Highway 25): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 1st Street North

Turn right onto 1st Street North

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 9th Avenue North

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

28.1 mi into trip | ~35m in | MN 25 / State Highway 25

Turn right onto MN 25 / State Highway 25

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

37.2 mi into trip | ~49m in | MN 25; CR 35 / Central Avenue

Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35 / Central Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

38.6 mi into trip | ~53m in | MN 25 / State Highway 25

Enter roundabout onto MN 25 / State Highway 25

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	22.1 mi	23m
State Highway 25	21.7 mi	30m
County Road 10	7.6 mi	10m
Roosevelt Road	3.9 mi	6m
Waconia Parkway North	1.4 mi	3m
US 12	1.3 mi	1m
18th Street	1.2 mi	1m
Southeast Ahern Avenue	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 22.1 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Courthouse Square

270 ft · 13 sec · Courthouse Square

Turn right onto 1st Street North

215 ft · 14 sec · 1st Street North

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

399 ft · 13 sec · 9th Avenue North

Turn right onto West Saint Germain Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Saint Germain Street

Turn left onto Washington Memorial Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Washington Memorial Drive

Turn left onto CR 75

3.9 mi · 6 min · Roosevelt Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto I 94

22 mi · 23 min · I 94

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Turn right onto MN 25

7.5 mi · 10 min · State Highway 25

Use the straight lane.

Continue on MN 25

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 25

Use the straight lane.

Continue on MN 25; CR 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Central Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35

111 ft · 6 sec · Central Avenue

Continue on MN 25; CR 35

0.5 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on MN 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lake Boulevard South

Continue on MN 25

0.1 mi · 21 sec · MN 25

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto MN 25

92 ft · 5 sec · State Highway 25

Continue on MN 25

0.3 mi · 25 sec · State Highway 25

Continue on MN 25

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southeast Ahern Avenue

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on MN 25

5.7 mi · 7 min · State Highway 25

Use the straight lane.

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; MN 25

0.3 mi · 20 sec · 60th Street Southeast

Merge onto US 12; MN 25

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 12; MN 25

Continue on US 12; MN 25

0.5 mi · 1 min · Nelson Boulevard

Turn left onto MN 25

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Buffalo Avenue South

Continue on MN 25

6.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 25

Continue on MN 25

1.2 mi · 1 min · 18th Street

Turn right onto MN 25; CR 10

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Jefferson Avenue Northwest

Turn left onto CR 10

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Territorial Street West

Enter roundabout onto CR 10

100 ft · 2 sec · Territorial Street East

Continue on CR 10

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Territorial Street East

Enter roundabout onto CR 10

62 ft · 1 sec · White Street

Continue on CR 10

0.3 mi · 42 sec · White Street

Continue on CR 10

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Road 10

Enter roundabout onto County Road 10

184 ft · 3 sec · County Road 10

Continue on County Road 10

3.6 mi · 4 min · County Road 10

Enter roundabout onto Waconia Parkway North

215 ft · 3 sec · Waconia Parkway North

Continue on Waconia Parkway North

1.4 mi · 3 min · Waconia Parkway North

Continue on North Walnut Street

407 ft · 16 sec · North Walnut Street

Turn left onto Main Street West

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Main Street West

Turn left onto North Olive Street

210 ft · 11 sec · North Olive Street

Turn right

175 ft · 14 sec

Turn right

50 ft · 3 sec

Arrive at destination

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 33.2 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.1 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 66.3 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 33.2 miles or 42m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waconia, 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 66.3 miles and 1h 35m.

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 22.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.2 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albertville, MN

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

Plymouth, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albertville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waconia, MN

The final approach into Waconia, 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 Waconia, 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

$9.48 one way

$18.97 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$10.23	$20.47
premium	$4.39	$11.46	$22.93
diesel	$5.64	$14.73	$29.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	19.9	$6.96	$3.18
Efficient EV	16.6	$5.80	$2.65
EV Truck/SUV	26.5	$9.28	$4.24

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Sunday

Local time

4:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waconia, MN

Afternoon in Waconia on Sunday

Local time

4:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

38°F

Albertville, MN

33 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

22 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 35m 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 Waconia, MN covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, State Highway 25, County Road 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 33.2 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 $9.48 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.

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

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Explore More

Return Trip

Waconia, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

66.6 mi 1h 35m

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