Origin
Saint Paul Park, MN
Morning in Saint Paul Park on Friday
Local time
8:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
85.8 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Paul Park, MN
Adriaan Greyling
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
This 85.8-mile drive from Saint Paul Park, MN, to Saint Cloud, MN, is a straightforward trip through the Midwest region, designed for a single day of travel. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 46 minutes on the road, covering most of the distance on highways like US 10 and I-94 W. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this route is an economical option for a quick journey. Given its relatively short length and highway-focused profile, it's perfectly suited as a day trip, offering efficiency for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Saint Paul Park, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on efficient interstates like I-94 W, transitioning to US 10. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.6 miles on US 10, offering a solid period of consistent travel. The character of the road remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness rather than varied scenery or winding paths. It's a drive built for covering ground efficiently.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left toward US 10 West, US 61 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Paul Park, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 31.6 mi | 39m |
| I 94 | 30.7 mi | 33m |
| I-94 W | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Summit Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 10th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Paul Park, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
Start on 9th Avenue
Turn right onto Summit Avenue
Turn left
Merge onto US 10; US 61
Take the exit onto US 10; US 61
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit onto US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
Continue on US 10
Continue on I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto CR 75
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
Turn right onto 15th Street South
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
Continue on 10th Avenue South
Turn right onto 1st Street North
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Arrive at destination
Plan to depart Saint Paul Park when traffic is lightest, likely mid-morning, to maximize your time on the road. Since this is a shorter, 1-hour-and-46-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. With only 85.8 miles to cover and a minimal fuel cost of $13, you won't need many stops. However, be mindful of the 31.6-mile stretch on US 10; ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment to maintain a smooth journey to Saint Cloud.
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.
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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Paul Park, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Paul Park, MN
This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.9 mi from Saint Paul Park, MN · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Saint Paul Park, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.77 one way
$25.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.76 | $27.52 |
| premium | $4.53 | $15.31 | $30.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.94 | $37.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.51 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.01 | $5.49 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Saint Paul Park on Friday
Local time
8:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Saint Cloud on Friday
Local time
8:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:02PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 11:43AM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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