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Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Montrose, MN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

47.4 mi

76 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

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

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Montrose, MN covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 5m 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 $7.05 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 47.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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.

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 Montrose, MN is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Montrose, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
1st Street North
9th Avenue North
West Saint Germain Street
Washington Memorial Drive
Roosevelt Road
Highway 25
Central Avenue
Lake Boulevard South

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

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 Montrose, 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

22 mi · 23 min
9

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 52 sec
10

Turn right onto State Highway 25

7.5 mi · 10 min · State Highway 25
11

Continue on State Highway 25

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 25
12

Continue on Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Central Avenue
13

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Central Avenue

112 ft · 6 sec · Central Avenue
14

Exit the roundabout onto Central Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
15

Continue on Lake Boulevard South

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lake Boulevard South
16

Continue straight

0.1 mi · 21 sec
17

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 25

92 ft · 5 sec · State Highway 25
18

Exit the rotary onto State Highway 25

0.3 mi · 25 sec · State Highway 25
19

Continue on Southeast Ahern Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southeast Ahern Avenue
20

Continue on State Highway 25

5.7 mi · 7 min · State Highway 25
21

At the end of the road, turn right onto 60th Street Southeast

0.3 mi · 21 sec · 60th Street Southeast
22

Merge slight left onto US 12

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 12
23

Continue on Nelson Boulevard

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Nelson Boulevard
24

Turn right onto Buffalo Avenue South

23 ft · 1 sec · Buffalo Avenue South
25

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.7 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 32m into the drive

city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Big Lake, MN

24 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

Saint Augusta, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Montrose, MN

The final approach into Montrose, 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

$7.05 one way

$14.11 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $7.60 $15.20
premium $4.53 $8.46 $16.91
diesel $5.61 $10.47 $20.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.2 0 $4.98 $2.28
Efficient EV 11.9 0 $4.15 $1.90
EV Truck/SUV 19 0 $6.64 $3.03

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Thursday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Montrose, MN

Afternoon in Montrose on Thursday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°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

1 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 5m 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 Montrose, MN covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 5m 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 23.7 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 $7.05 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 Montrose, MN is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Montrose, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Montrose, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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