Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Night in Saint Cloud on Thursday
Local time
10:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Wayzata, MN
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
61.7 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Wayzata, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Wayzata, MN covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 15m 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 494, Roosevelt Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.4 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 61.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 15m highway drive covering 61.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 494. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.4 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 19 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 45.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street North.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street North
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Avenue North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Carlson Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20
Toward Carlson Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.4 mi | 48m |
| I 494 | 7 mi | 8m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Gleason Lake Drive | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Wayzata Boulevard West | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Washington Memorial Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Germain Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Gleason Lake Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Wayzata, 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
45 mi
·
48 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 494
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 20
Toward Carlson Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Carlson Parkway
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Carlson Parkway
13
Turn right onto Gleason Lake Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gleason Lake Drive
Use the right lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto CR 15
140 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gleason Lake Drive
15
Continue on CR 15
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Gleason Lake Drive
16
Continue on Gleason Lake Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Gleason Lake Road
17
Turn right onto CR 101
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wayzata Boulevard West
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Chicago Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Chicago Avenue North
19
Arrive at destination
Chicago Avenue North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.8 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wayzata, MN
The final approach into Wayzata, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.18 one way
$18.36 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.89 | $19.79 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.01 | $22.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.62 | $27.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Wayzata, MN
Night in Wayzata on Thursday
Local time
10:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 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 Wayzata, MN covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 494, 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 30.8 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 $9.18 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 61.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Wayzata, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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