Origin
Wayzata, MN
Afternoon in Wayzata on Thursday
Local time
1:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wayzata, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
61.4 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wayzata, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wayzata, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 61.4 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I 494, Roosevelt Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.2 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 61.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 16m highway drive covering 61.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 494. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.2 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 23 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 45.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 494 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 494 North
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
6
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
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
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
6
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wayzata, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
55.9 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
55.9 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.2 mi | 48m |
| I 494 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Gleason Lake Drive | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Wayzata Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 10th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wayzata, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on Chicago Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Chicago Avenue North
2
Turn left onto Wayzata Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wayzata Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Gleason Lake Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Gleason Lake Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CR 15
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Gleason Lake Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto Gleason Lake Drive
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Gleason Lake Drive
6
Continue on Gleason Lake Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gleason Lake Drive
7
Turn left onto Carlson Parkway
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Carlson Parkway
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 494
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 94
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
14
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
15
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
16
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
17
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
18
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
19
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
20
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
10th Avenue South
21
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
22
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
23
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.7 mi from Wayzata, MN · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Wayzata, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.14 one way
$18.27 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.85 | $19.69 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.96 | $21.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.56 | $27.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Thursday
Local time
1:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
31 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
4 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 16m 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 Wayzata, MN to Saint Cloud, MN covers 61.4 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 494, Roosevelt Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.7 miles from Wayzata, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Wayzata, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
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