Origin
Brainerd, MN
Late night in Brainerd on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brainerd, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
63.5 mi
102 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brainerd, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 63.5-mile drive from Brainerd to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend just over half the time on highways, with a 51% highway share, and the estimated fuel cost is around $9. The route offers a mixed drive experience, suitable for those looking for a direct connection between these two Midwest locations. Given its short distance and duration, there's no need for an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This trip is ideal for a quick transfer or a casual journey through Minnesota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway | 25.8 mi | 29m |
| Highland Scenic Drive South | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East Saint Germain Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Laurel Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Laurel Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 32.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brainerd, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on MN 371 Business
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Laurel Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Laurel Street
3
Continue on West Laurel Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Laurel Street
4
Continue on CR 48
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Scenic Drive South
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 48
108 ft
·
3 sec
·
Highland Scenic Drive South
6
Continue on CR 48
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Scenic Drive South
7
Turn left onto MN 371
26 mi
·
29 min
·
C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
8
Merge onto US 10
28 mi
·
32 min
·
US 10
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 10
10
Turn right onto East Saint Germain Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
11
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
12
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
13
Continue on 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Street North
14
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
15
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
16
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 31.7 miles from Brainerd, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 63.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Laurel Street
Turn right onto Laurel Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South
Enter roundabout onto CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
29.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
57.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.45 one way
$18.90 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.18 | $20.37 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.33 | $22.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.02 | $28.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.06 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 12:02PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 11:43AM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
39 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 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
The journey from Brainerd to Saint Cloud presents a mixed driving profile. You'll encounter sections on US 10, the C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway, and Highland Scenic Drive South. With 51% of the drive on highways, expect some faster-paced travel interspersed with other road types. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 32.7 miles on US 10, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The character of the road shifts throughout, blending efficient highway travel with potentially more local road segments as you approach your destination.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on US 10.
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 around 0.2 miles in near Laurel Street.
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 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Saint Cloud, MN
Full guide →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.
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 18m. Total distance: 63.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.7 miles on US 10. 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: at 0.2 miles (Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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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