Origin
Watertown, MN
Afternoon in Watertown on Wednesday
Local time
2:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 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 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lewis Avenue South, Territorial Street West, Jefferson Avenue Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.36 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
28.1 miles from Watertown, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 56.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lewis Avenue South 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 Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Territorial Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jefferson Avenue Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 18th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Buffalo Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nelson Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Lewis Avenue South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Lewis Avenue South
66 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lewis Avenue South
2
Continue on Lewis Avenue South
95 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lewis Avenue South
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Territorial Street West
203 ft
·
6 sec
·
Territorial Street West
4
Exit the roundabout onto Territorial Street West
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Territorial Street West
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Jefferson Avenue Northwest
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue Northwest
6
Turn left onto 18th Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
18th Street
7
Continue on State Highway 25
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 25
8
Continue on Buffalo Avenue South
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Buffalo Avenue South
9
Turn right onto Nelson Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
10
Continue on US 12
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12
11
Take the exit slight left
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
12
Turn left
6.4 mi
·
8 min
13
Continue on State Highway 25
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Highway 25
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 25
138 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 25
15
Exit the rotary onto State Highway 25
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
State Highway 25
16
Continue on Lake Boulevard South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Boulevard South
17
Continue on Central Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Central Avenue
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
Central Avenue
19
Exit the roundabout onto Central Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Central Avenue
20
Continue on State Highway 25
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 25
21
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
22
Merge slight left
22 mi
·
23 min
23
Take the exit slight right toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
24
Keep slight left
220 ft
·
6 sec
25
Turn right onto Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
26
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
128 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
27
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
28
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
29
At the end of the road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
30
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
10th Avenue South
31
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
32
At the end of the road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
269 ft
·
12 sec
·
Courthouse Square
33
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 28.1 miles from Watertown, MN, or about 39m 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 56.2 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.1 miles or 39m 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 6m
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 Watertown, 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 Watertown, MN
This is one driving day of about 56.2 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Watertown, 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 28.1 mi from Watertown, MN · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 56.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Watertown, 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
$8.36 one way
$16.73 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.03 | $20.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
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: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
2:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
28 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 18m 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 Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lewis Avenue South, Territorial Street West, Jefferson Avenue Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.1 miles from Watertown, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.36 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 Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watertown, MN to Saint Cloud, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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