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Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 26m

Distance

127.1 mi

204 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m

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 Cloquet, MN, MN

Cloquet, MN

Joel Santos

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN covers 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 8th Avenue North, 2nd Street North, 1st Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.91 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

63.5 miles from Saint Cloud, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 127.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 26m drive with frequent turns across 127.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th Avenue North is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN is easy. At 2h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
8th Avenue North
2nd Street North
1st Street North
5th Avenue North
2nd Street South
Granite City Crossing
3rd Street Southeast
the route

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 8th Avenue North — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Courthouse Square

7 ft · 2 sec · Courthouse Square
2

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

253 ft · 14 sec · 8th Avenue North
3

Turn right onto 2nd Street North

394 ft · 10 sec · 2nd Street North
4

Continue on 1st Street North

0.1 mi · 21 sec · 1st Street North
5

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 5th Avenue North
6

Turn left onto 2nd Street South

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 2nd Street South
7

Continue on Granite City Crossing

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Granite City Crossing
8

Continue on 3rd Street Southeast

15 mi · 18 min · 3rd Street Southeast
9

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

115 ft · 1 sec · the route
10

Exit the roundabout

33 mi · 37 min
11

Turn left

1.6 mi · 2 min
12

Continue on Forest Avenue East

18 mi · 20 min · Forest Avenue East
13

Take the exit left toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth

36 mi · 38 min · Interstate 35 North: Duluth
14

Continue straight

21 mi · 22 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
16

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

128 ft · 2 sec · the route
17

Exit the roundabout

2.1 mi · 3 min
18

Turn right onto Cloquet Avenue

466 ft · 15 sec · Cloquet Avenue
19

Turn right onto 4th Street

26 ft · 1 sec · 4th Street
20

Arrive at your 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 63.5 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.

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 28 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.5 miles or 1h 13m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cloquet, 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 127.1 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Saint Cloud, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.5 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 1h 13m into the drive

city in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Braham, MN

64 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

Milaca, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Braham, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.5 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cloquet, MN

The final approach into Cloquet, 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 Cloquet, 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

$18.91 one way

$37.83 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $20.38 $40.76
premium $4.53 $22.68 $45.36
diesel $5.61 $28.06 $56.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.1 0 $13.35 $6.10
Efficient EV 31.8 0 $11.12 $5.08
EV Truck/SUV 50.8 0 $17.79 $8.13

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Night in Saint Cloud on Thursday

Local time

9:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cloquet, MN

Night in Cloquet on Thursday

Local time

9:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

29 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

2h 26m 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 Cloquet, MN covers 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Avenue North, 2nd Street North, 1st Street North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.5 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 $18.91 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 drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN is easy. At 2h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Cloquet, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cloquet, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

Plan the drive back the other way.

127 mi 2h 25m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.

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