Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN

Drive Time

1h 10m

Distance

66.4 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 66.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, West Saint Germain Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.33 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 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 10m drive with frequent turns across 66.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

1st Street North is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
1st Street North	Unavailable	Refreshing
9th Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Saint Germain Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Washington Memorial Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing
Roosevelt Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
4th Street North	Unavailable	Refreshing
2nd Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Washington Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 1st Street North — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Courthouse Square

269 ft · 14 sec · Courthouse Square

2

Turn right onto 1st Street North

217 ft · 15 sec · 1st Street North

3

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

400 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 Roosevelt Road

3.9 mi · 6 min · Roosevelt Road

7

Take the ramp straight

0.4 mi · 49 sec

8

Merge slight left

52 mi · 57 min

9

Keep slight right

6.1 mi · 7 min

10

Keep slight right

0.4 mi · 25 sec

11

Keep slight left to continue on 4th Street North

1.0 mi · 2 min · 4th Street North

12

Keep slight right to continue on 2nd Avenue North

0.3 mi · 40 sec · 2nd Avenue North

13

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North

0.2 mi · 36 sec · 2nd Avenue North

14

Turn right onto North Washington Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue

15

Continue on Washington Avenue South

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Washington Avenue South

16

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 35m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 66.4 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 33.2 miles or 35m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minneapolis, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint Cloud, MN

This is one driving day of about 66.4 miles and 1h 10m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Maple Grove, 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.2 mi from Saint Cloud, MN

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maple Grove, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.57	$9.33	$18.66
midgrade	$3.92	$10.25	$20.50
premium	$4.39	$11.48	$22.96
diesel	$4.86	$12.72	$25.43

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Compare the departure city with the arrival city before you leave so the route feels predictable, not reactive.

Forecast data refreshed 23 hours ago

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Late night in Saint Cloud on Saturday

Local time

2:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Minneapolis, MN

Late night in Minneapolis on Saturday

Local time

2:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof 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

27 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 10m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Minneapolis, MN covers 66.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, West Saint Germain Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

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 $9.33 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.