Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Marais, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
254.2 mi
409 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Marais, MN
Andrew Patrick Photo
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Marais, MN covers 254.2 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 61, I 35, Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.8 miles on Highway 61. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 254.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 10m highway drive covering 254.2 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 61 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 82.8 miles on Highway 61.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 82.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,163 ft
612 ft
Total Climb
356 ft
Total Descent
781 ft
Highest Point
1,163 ft
~109 mi in
Elevation Range
551 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 61 and I 35. 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 5h 10m drive. You will face about 11 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 0.3 miles (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese 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
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street North
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
67.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
Take the exit onto MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth
5
146.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
MN 61
Merge onto MN 61
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 61 | 82.8 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35 | 43 mi | 49m |
| Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive | 36.2 mi | 38m |
| MN 23 | 34.4 mi | 39m |
| MN 61 | 23.5 mi | 32m |
| Forest Avenue East | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| 3rd Street Southeast | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| 7th Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 61
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Grand Marais, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
13 sec
·
8th Avenue North
3
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
9 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 MN 23
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
2nd Street South
7
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Granite City Crossing
8
Continue on MN 23
15 mi
·
18 min
·
3rd Street Southeast
9
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
114 ft
·
1 sec
·
MN 23
10
Continue on MN 23
33 mi
·
37 min
·
MN 23
11
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 23; MN 65
12
Continue on MN 23
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Forest Avenue East
13
Take the exit onto MN 23
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
Toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth
14
Continue on I 35
43 mi
·
49 min
·
I 35
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward MN 61 North
16
Merge onto MN 61
23 mi
·
32 min
·
MN 61
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on MN 61
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
7th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn straight onto MN 61
83 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Highway 61
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto West 1st Street
53 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 1st 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 127.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Marais, 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 254.2 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 Highway 61 for about 82.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.1 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 2h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Highway 61 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.8 miles.
Arriving in Grand Marais, MN
The final approach into Grand Marais, 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 Grand Marais, 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
$37.83 one way
$75.66 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $40.76 | $81.52 |
| premium | $4.53 | $45.36 | $90.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.12 | $112.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.69 | $12.20 |
| Efficient EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.24 | $10.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.7 | 1 | $35.59 | $16.27 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Grand Marais, MN
Late night in Grand Marais on Saturday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Cloverland, WI
127 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
38 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
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Grand Marais, MN covers 254.2 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 61, I 35, Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.1 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 $37.83 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.3 miles (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Grand Marais, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 612 ft to 1,163 ft elevation with about 356 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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