Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Paynesville, MN

Drive Time

45m

Distance

34.2 mi

55 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 42m ★

6 AM

0h 46m

8 AM

0h 54m

10 AM

0h 49m

12 PM

0h 48m

3 PM

0h 49m

5 PM

0h 53m

8 PM

0h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Cloud, MN

Tom Fisk

Paynesville, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Paynesville, MN covers 34.2 miles and takes about 45m 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, 16th Avenue North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.89 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

17.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 45m drive with frequent turns across 34.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 18 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Paynesville, MN is easy. At 45m 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 Paynesville, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
8th Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
2nd Street North	Unavailable	Refreshing
16th Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
3rd Street North	Unavailable	Refreshing
MN-15 S	Unavailable	Refreshing
Division Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
10th Avenue South	Unavailable	Refreshing
2nd Street South	Unavailable	Refreshing

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

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 Paynesville, MN.

Start on Courthouse Square

7 ft · 2 sec · Courthouse Square

Turn right onto 8th Avenue North

253 ft · 16 sec · 8th Avenue North

Turn left onto 2nd Street North

0.5 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street North

Turn right onto 16th Avenue North

407 ft · 16 sec · 16th Avenue North

Turn left onto 3rd Street North

1.6 mi · 3 min · 3rd Street North

Turn left onto MN-15 S

0.4 mi · 36 sec · MN-15 S

Turn right onto Division Street

1.2 mi · 1 min · Division Street

Turn left onto 10th Avenue South

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 10th Avenue South

Turn right onto 2nd Street South

18 mi · 22 min · 2nd Street South

Continue on 4th Street West

0.1 mi · 12 sec · 4th Street West

Continue on 4th Street Southwest

0.9 mi · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest

Continue on MN 23

1.1 mi · 1 min · MN 23

Continue straight

9.2 mi · 10 min

Turn left onto Lake Avenue North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lake Avenue North

Turn slight left onto Washburne Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Washburne Avenue

Turn left onto Business 23

522 ft · 11 sec · Business 23

Turn right onto Lake Avenue South

7 ft · Lake Avenue South

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 17.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 22m 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 34.2 miles or 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 17.1 miles or 22m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paynesville, 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 34.2 miles and 45m.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.1 mi from Saint Cloud, MN · 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avon, MN

17 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

Avon, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avon, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Paynesville, MN

The final approach into Paynesville, 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 Paynesville, 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

$4.89 one way

$9.78 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$5.28	$10.56
premium	$4.39	$5.91	$11.83
diesel	$5.64	$7.60	$15.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	10.3	$3.59	$1.64
Efficient EV	8.6	$2.99	$1.37
EV Truck/SUV	13.7	$4.79	$2.19

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Saint Cloud, MN

Evening in Saint Cloud on Sunday

Local time

6:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paynesville, MN

Evening in Paynesville on Sunday

Local time

6:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

37°F

Avon, MN

17 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

25 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

45m 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 Paynesville, MN covers 34.2 miles and takes about 45m 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, 16th Avenue North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 17.1 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 $4.89 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 Paynesville, MN is easy. At 45m 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 Paynesville, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Saint Cloud, MN to Paynesville, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.