Origin
Atwater, MN
Late night in Atwater on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atwater, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.4 mi
91 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atwater, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Atwater, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is 56.4 miles and takes about 1h 16m via MN 15, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, offering a straightforward connection between two points. It's a practical drive that's easy to fit into a busy schedule, making it ideal for a quick trip. You won't encounter significant changes in scenery, but it's a reliable way to get from A to B without much fuss. Consider this route when you need a simple, efficient transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 15 | 18.1 mi | 23m |
| Meeker Avenue East | 12.5 mi | 16m |
| Pleasant Avenue East | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 22 | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| 3rd Street North | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 16th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 15
— 18.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atwater, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on this road
135 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft
·
11 sec
·
Minnesota Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 2
144 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street North
4
Turn right onto US 12
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Pleasant Avenue East
5
Turn left onto MN 22
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 22
6
Continue on MN 22
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
State Street
7
Turn right onto MN 55
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Meeker Avenue East
8
Turn left onto MN 15
18 mi
·
23 min
·
MN 15
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street North
10
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
16 sec
·
16th Avenue North
11
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
12
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
13
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
14
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Atwater, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Minnesota Avenue
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 2 / Main Street North
Turn left onto CR 2 / Main Street North
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12 / Pleasant Avenue East
Turn right onto US 12 / Pleasant Avenue East
Navigation decision point
4
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
MN 22 / State Highway 22
Turn left onto MN 22 / State Highway 22
Navigation decision point
5
36.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
MN 15
Turn left onto MN 15
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.39 one way
$16.79 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.04 | $18.09 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.06 | $20.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
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 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.90 | $3.61 |
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
Late night in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Kingston, MN
28 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
20 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed drive, with 52% of it on highways. You'll experience a variety of road types, from faster highway sections to more local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.1 miles on MN 15, offering a good segment of consistent driving. As you progress, expect the feel of the drive to shift between quicker travel and more town-oriented segments. This blend means you'll be adjusting your pace throughout the roughly 1 hour and 16 minute journey.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on MN 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Minnesota Avenue.
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 1h 16m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Minnesota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR 2 / Main Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 12 / Pleasant Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Saint Cloud, MN
Full guide →Founded 1856
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.
Top landmarks
- • Michael Majerus House — House in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
- • Carter Block — building in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
- • First National Bank — historic bank building in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.4 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 (52%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on MN 15. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Minnesota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR 2 / Main Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 12 / Pleasant Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Cloud, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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