Origin
Chanhassen, MN
Late night in Chanhassen on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chanhassen, 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 26m
Distance
69.8 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanhassen, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Chanhassen to Saint Cloud, you can expect a straightforward 69.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, as it does not require an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel will cover your transit across the Minnesota landscape. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient path that favors speed over sightseeing, making it an ideal choice if you need to reach your destination without unnecessary delays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.2 mi | 48m |
| I 494 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Chanhassen Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| County Road 101 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chanhassen, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on West 78th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
West 78th Street
2
Turn left onto MN 101
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chanhassen Road
3
Continue on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
CR 101
4
Turn left onto CR 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 101
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto MN 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 494
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Continue on I 94
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
30 min
·
I 94
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
13
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft
·
12 sec
14
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Road
15
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
22nd Street South
16
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue South
17
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
15th Street South
18
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Avenue South
19
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
10th Avenue South
20
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
21
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
22
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.9 miles from Chanhassen, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 69.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 North
8
18.5 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
69.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.39 one way
$20.78 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.19 | $22.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $12.45 | $24.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.41 | $30.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.33 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.77 | $4.47 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Late night in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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 26m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of your time spent on major arteries like I-494 and I-94. You will encounter a mix of fast-paced interstate travel and transition onto Roosevelt Road as you approach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 45.2-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-94. Expect a steady, predictable pace rather than technical winding roads, as the route is designed for efficiency. Navigating these main roads provides a consistent driving experience that allows you to cover the distance quickly.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 6.3 miles in near MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 6.3 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chanhassen, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
64.3 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
64.3 mi in
|
~1h 15m
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 26m. Total distance: 69.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on I 94. 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 6.3 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 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.
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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