Origin
Saint Francis, MN
Afternoon in Saint Francis on Wednesday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Francis, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 52.2 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ambassador Boulevard Northwest, 229th Avenue Northwest, St Francis Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.77 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
26.1 miles from Saint Francis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 52.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ambassador Boulevard Northwest 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 Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 8m 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 Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ambassador Boulevard Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 229th Avenue Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| St Francis Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Saint Francis Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Norris Lake Road Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nowthen Boulevard Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 201st Avenue Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Baugh Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Ambassador Boulevard Northwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Francis, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Bridge Street Northwest
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Bridge Street Northwest
2
Turn left onto Ambassador Boulevard Northwest
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ambassador Boulevard Northwest
3
Turn right onto 229th Avenue Northwest
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
229th Avenue Northwest
4
Turn left onto St Francis Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
St Francis Boulevard
5
Continue on Saint Francis Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Saint Francis Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Norris Lake Road Northwest
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Norris Lake Road Northwest
7
Continue on Nowthen Boulevard Northwest
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Nowthen Boulevard Northwest
8
Turn right onto 201st Avenue Northwest
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
201st Avenue Northwest
9
Continue on Baugh Street Northwest
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Baugh Street Northwest
10
Turn right onto 181st Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
181st Avenue Northwest
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 181st Avenue Northwest
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
181st Avenue Northwest
12
Exit the roundabout onto 181st Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
181st Avenue Northwest
13
Continue on Main Street Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street Northwest
14
Turn right onto Voyageur Highway
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Voyageur Highway
15
Continue on Jefferson Boulevard
27 mi
·
32 min
·
Jefferson Boulevard
16
Turn left onto East Saint Germain Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
17
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
18
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
19
Continue on 2nd Street North
394 ft
·
14 sec
·
2nd Street North
20
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
21
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
Courthouse Square
22
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 26.1 miles from Saint Francis, MN, or about 34m 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 52.2 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.1 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Francis, 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 Francis, MN
This is one driving day of about 52.2 miles and 1h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Francis, 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 26.1 mi from Saint Francis, MN · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Saint Francis, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Saint Cloud, MN
The final approach into Saint Cloud, 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 Saint Cloud, 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
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.31 | $18.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
12:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
26 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
28 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 8m 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 Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 52.2 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ambassador Boulevard Northwest, 229th Avenue Northwest, St Francis Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 miles from Saint Francis, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.77 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 Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 8m 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 Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Francis, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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