Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
66.2 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Waconia, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Olive Street, Main Street West, North Walnut Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.30 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
33.1 miles from Waconia, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 35m drive with frequent turns across 66.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Olive Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Walnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Waconia Parkway North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 10 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| White Street Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Territorial Street East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Territorial Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Waconia, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
Start on the route
Turn left
Turn left onto North Olive Street
Turn right onto Main Street West
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Walnut Street
Continue on Waconia Parkway North
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Road 10
Exit the roundabout onto County Road 10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Road 10
Exit the roundabout onto County Road 10
Continue on White Street Southeast
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Territorial Street East
Exit the roundabout onto Territorial Street East
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Territorial Street West
Exit the roundabout onto Territorial Street West
At the end of the road, turn right onto Jefferson Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto 18th Street
Continue on State Highway 25
Continue on Buffalo Avenue South
Turn right onto Nelson Boulevard
Continue on US 12
Take the exit slight left
Turn left
Continue on State Highway 25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Settlers Parkway
Exit the rotary onto Settlers Parkway
Turn left
Continue straight
Turn right onto State Highway 25
Turn left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto Roosevelt Road
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
Turn right onto 15th Street South
At the end of the road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
Continue on 10th Avenue South
Turn right onto 1st Street North
At the end of the road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Arrive at your destination
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 66.2 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.1 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Waconia, 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 Waconia, MN
This is one driving day of about 66.2 miles and 1h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.1 mi from Waconia, MN · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 66.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Waconia, 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$9.30 one way
$18.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
| premium | $4.39 | $11.45 | $22.89 |
| diesel | $4.86 | $12.68 | $25.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.95 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Waconia on Saturday
Local time
12:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
12:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Albertville, MN
33 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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