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Trip from Coleraine, MN to Saint Cloud, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 17m

Distance

150.4 mi

242 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 6m ★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Coleraine, MN, MN

Coleraine, MN

Tom Fisk

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Saint Cloud, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Coleraine, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is 150.4 miles and takes about 3h 17m via US Highway 169, Voyageur Highway, and MN 23, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically traversing Minnesota for its entirety. It's a relatively straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion, connecting two points within the state without demanding extensive planning. You'll find this route offers a practical way to travel between these locations, suitable for those seeking a direct journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

75.2 miles from Coleraine, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 169 57.4 mi 1h 7m
Voyageur Highway 50 mi 1h 12m
MN 23 29.6 mi 35m
Corey Street 5.9 mi 9m
Central Avenue 2.3 mi 2m
North Pokegama Avenue 2.1 mi 2m
Minnesota Avenue North 1 mi 2m
Northeast 4th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US Highway 169 — 57.4 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Coleraine, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.

1

Start on Gayley Avenue

40 ft · 8 sec · Gayley Avenue
2

Turn left onto Roosevelt Street

369 ft · 21 sec · Roosevelt Street
3

Turn left onto Kerr Avenue

323 ft · 16 sec · Kerr Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 169

365 ft · 13 sec · US 169
5

Continue on US 169

5.9 mi · 9 min · Corey Street
6

Continue on US 169

0.7 mi · 1 min · Northeast 4th Street
7

Turn left onto US 169

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Pokegama Avenue
8

Continue on US 169

16 mi · 29 min · Voyageur Highway
9

Turn left

89 ft · 1 sec
10

Keep slight right at fork

352 ft · 4 sec
11

Merge onto US 169

34 mi · 42 min · Voyageur Highway
12

Continue on US 169; MN 210

0.5 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street Northeast
13

Turn left onto US 169

1.0 mi · 2 min · Minnesota Avenue North
14

Continue on US 169

0.2 mi · 13 sec · US Highway 169
15

Enter roundabout onto US Highway 169

176 ft · 2 sec · US Highway 169
16

Continue on US Highway 169

55 mi · 1 hr 4 min · US Highway 169
17

Continue on US 169

2.3 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue
18

Continue on US 169

2.3 mi · 2 min · US Highway 169
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
20

Turn right onto MN 23

14 mi · 16 min · MN 23
21

Enter roundabout onto MN 23

125 ft · 1 sec · MN 23
22

Continue on MN 23

15 mi · 19 min · MN 23
23

Turn right onto 7th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 38 sec · 7th Avenue South
24

Turn left onto Courthouse Square

222 ft · 11 sec · Courthouse Square
25

Continue on Courthouse Square

363 ft · 16 sec · Courthouse Square
26

Arrive at destination

Courthouse Square

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 17m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential spontaneous stops. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $22, this trip is budget-friendly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 57.4-mile stretch on US Highway 169, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.2 miles from Coleraine, MN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.4 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 33 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.2 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 44m

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 Coleraine, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Coleraine, MN

This is one driving day of about 150.4 miles and 3h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Coleraine, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 169 for about 57.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Buckman, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buckman, MN

75 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

Grand Rapids, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brainerd, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.2 miles from Coleraine, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · first break window

NoPo Kitchen + Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Near the start, short detour

First break · 14min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+12189105755

Visit website

Best coffee break · home stretch

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Cloud, Minnesota

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Rapid Nutrition & Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

2.8 mi

NoPo Kitchen + Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+12189105755

Visit website

Forest Lake Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12183263423

Visit website

Brewed Awakenings

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5:30 pm

+12183271088

HR Bistro + Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+12183263458

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Rapid Nutrition & Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

Visit website

Dragonfly Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+12189995771

Visit website

Judy Garland Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm

+12183279276

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Children's Discovery Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm

+12183261900

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Forest History Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+12183274482

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.6 — 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 | Roosevelt Street

Turn left onto Roosevelt Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Kerr Avenue

Turn left onto Kerr Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 169

Turn right onto US 169

Navigation decision point

5
25 mi into trip | ~44m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
60.6 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | US Highway 169

Enter roundabout onto US Highway 169

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.38 one way

$44.76 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $24.12 $48.23
premium $4.53 $26.84 $53.67
diesel $5.61 $33.21 $66.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.1 0 $15.79 $7.22
Efficient EV 37.6 0 $13.16 $6.02
EV Truck/SUV 60.2 0 $21.06 $9.63

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Coleraine, MN

Late night in Coleraine on Tuesday

Local time

4:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

33°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint Cloud, MN

Late night in Saint Cloud on Tuesday

Local time

4:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°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

23 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

3h 17m 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 mixed drive, with 58% of the route utilizing highways. You'll experience stretches on US Highway 169, including one continuous segment of 57.4 miles, which offers a good pace for covering ground. The profile suggests a blend of faster highway driving and potentially more local road sections as you approach your destination. Expect the road conditions to vary somewhat, transitioning from more open highway to potentially more built-up areas.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.4 mi on US Highway 169.

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 Roosevelt 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 3h 17m drive. You will face about 14 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 (Roosevelt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Kerr Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 169): 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 3h 17m. Total distance: 150.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 57.4 miles on US Highway 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Roosevelt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Kerr Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 169): Navigation decision point.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Cloud, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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