If you are planning a trip from Afton to Saint Cloud, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 94.8 miles. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 56 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-694 and I-94 W, staying within the Midwest region for the duration of the trip. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the entire route is well under two hours, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics; it is an efficient connection between these two Minnesota locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Afton, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 694
29.9 mi
37m
I 94
28.6 mi
30m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
Saint Croix Trail South
3.4 mi
5m
Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
4m
Saint Croix Trail North
1 mi
1m
9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 29.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Afton, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on CH 18
80 ft·7 sec·Afton Boulevard
2
Turn left onto CH 18; CH 21
2.9 mi·4 min·Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
99 ft·1 sec·Saint Croix Trail South
4
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi·48 sec·Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
104 ft·2 sec·Saint Croix Trail North
6
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi·41 sec·Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
116 ft·2 sec·Saint Croix Trail North
8
Continue on CH 18
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left
8.8 mi·9 min
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint PaulUse the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 249Toward I 694 North, I 494 SouthUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 694 NorthUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 694
12 mi·14 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
18 mi·22 min·I 694
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I-94 W
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 171Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
17
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft·12 sec
18
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi·4 min·Roosevelt Road
19
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft·7 sec·22nd Street South
20
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·11th Avenue South
21
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi·22 sec·15th Street South
22
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·9th Avenue South
23
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·10th Avenue South
24
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi·29 sec·1st Street North
25
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
26
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential congestion on the interstate. You can easily complete the drive in one go without needing scheduled stops, though taking a break remains a personal preference. Since you are spending roughly $14 on gas, consider topping off your tank before you leave Afton to ensure a smooth, worry-free ride. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns as you merge onto I-94 W, as this corridor is the backbone of your journey. Using this direct highway path allows you to reach Saint Cloud quickly, leaving you the rest of the day to settle in once you arrive.
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 47.4 miles from Afton, MN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 miles.
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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 59m 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 32m
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 Afton, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Afton, MN
This is one driving day of about 94.8 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Afton, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 694 for about 29.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Saint Paul
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 94 West, US 12 West, MN 95 South: Sain...
8
13.1 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 694 North, I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 249
Toward I 694 North, I 494 South
7
13.4 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 694 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 694 North
6
25.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.11 one way
$28.22 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$15.20
$30.40
premium
$4.53
$16.91
$33.83
diesel
$5.61
$20.93
$41.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.95
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.27
$6.07
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Afton, MN
Late night
in Afton on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 80% of your time spent cruising on major interstates. You will find yourself behind the wheel for a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.9 miles while traveling along I-694. Because the route relies heavily on I-94, the experience is consistent and fast-paced rather than winding or technical. Expect a steady, direct commute that prioritizes speed and efficiency over backroad exploration. Navigating these multi-lane highways allows you to maintain a reliable pace for nearly the entire 94.8-mile distance.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.9 mi on I 694.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 694 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Afton, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Saint Cloud is a city in Central Minnesota with a population of 68,000 (2018). Although it may have few attractions to draw the tourist, it is a nexus of medical advances, particularly in orthopedics (St. Cloud Orthopedics Associates, for example). It is also a college town as it is home to St. Cloud State University and St Cloud Technical College. The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are nearby.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 94.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.9 miles on I 694. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Cloud, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Cloud, MN before heading back.
