Origin
Sauk Centre, MN
Afternoon in Sauk Centre on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sauk Centre, MN to Cold Spring, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
48.2 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sauk Centre, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Cold Spring, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Sauk Centre, MN to Cold Spring, MN covers 48.2 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, MN 23, Main Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 55m highway drive covering 48.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and MN 23. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.6 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South
Turn right onto US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
Navigation decision point
Toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
38.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MN 23 West: Rockville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MN 23 West: Rockville
3
38.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
MN 23
Merge onto MN 23
Merge point - match speed before joining
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 36.6 mi | 39m |
| MN 23 | 9 mi | 10m |
| Main Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street East | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Main St S | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Sinclair Lewis Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 36.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sauk Centre, MN and Cold Spring, MN.
1
Start on CR 17
147 ft
·
6 sec
·
Sinclair Lewis Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 71; MN 28
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street South
3
Continue on US 71; MN 28
523 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main St S
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
5
Merge onto I 94
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 94
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward MN 23 West: Rockville
7
Merge onto MN 23
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
MN 23
8
Turn right onto Main Street East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street East
9
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Sauk Centre, MN · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Sauk Centre, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cold Spring, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cold Spring, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.17 one way
$14.35 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 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 | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.08 |
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.
Destination
Cold Spring, MN
Afternoon in Cold Spring on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Avon, MN
24 mi in
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
24 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
55m 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 Sauk Centre, MN to Cold Spring, MN covers 48.2 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, MN 23, Main Street South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Sauk Centre, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.17 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.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Sauk Centre, MN to Cold Spring, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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