If you are planning to travel from Cottonwood to Saint Cloud, you are looking at a straightforward 116.6-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 30 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $17, the route is both efficient and budget-friendly for a quick getaway. You will primarily utilize MN 23 and US 212 to navigate between these two Minnesota hubs. Since the entire drive stays within the same region, you won't face drastic changes in landscape or climate, allowing for a predictable and smooth travel experience.
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
58.3 miles from Cottonwood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 23
93.7 mi
1h 56m
State Highway 23
14.9 mi
18m
US 212
3.2 mi
4m
3rd Street Northeast
2 mi
3m
Division Street
0.8 mi
1m
Barstad Road
0.6 mi
1m
2nd Street North
0.5 mi
1m
44th Avenue North
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 93.7 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on CR 10
455 ft·13 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 32
0.6 mi·1 min·Barstad Road
3
Turn right onto CR 10
0.1 mi·22 sec·390th Street
4
Turn left onto MN 23
15 mi·18 min·State Highway 23
5
Turn right onto US 212; MN 23
3.2 mi·4 min·US 212; MN 23
6
Turn left onto MN 23
94 mi·1 hr 56 min·MN 23
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·34 sec·10th Avenue South
8
Turn right onto CR 75
0.8 mi·1 min·Division Street
9
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
0.4 mi·45 sec·44th Avenue North
10
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
2.0 mi·3 min·3rd Street Northeast
11
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft·16 sec·16th Avenue North
12
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Street North
13
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft·16 sec·8th Avenue North
14
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft·0 sec·Courthouse Square
15
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the 2.5-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule. While you only strictly need one stop to complete the trip comfortably, keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on to ensure you are covered for the full 116.6 miles. Since the majority of your time is spent on a single 93.7-mile stretch, try to time your break near the midpoint to stretch your legs before the final push into Saint Cloud. Always keep your navigation apps updated, as highway-focused routes like this can occasionally see shifts in traffic flow or maintenance work. By keeping your pace steady, you can easily arrive at your destination without feeling rushed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.3 miles from Cottonwood, MN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.7 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.3 miles or 1h 14m 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
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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, MN
This is one driving day of about 116.6 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Cottonwood, 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 MN 23 for about 93.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 114 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|MN 23 / State Highway 23
Turn left onto MN 23 / State Highway 23
Navigation decision point
5
18.9 mi into trip|~25m in|MN 23
Turn left onto MN 23
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
112.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|10th Avenue South
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|44th Avenue North
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
114 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|3rd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.35 one way
$34.70 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$18.70
$37.39
premium
$4.53
$20.80
$41.61
diesel
$5.61
$25.74
$51.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.20
$4.66
EV Truck/SUV
46.6
0
$16.32
$7.46
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 21, 2026
Origin
Cottonwood, MN
Morning
in Cottonwood on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Morning
in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
New London, MN
58 mi in
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
1 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
2h 30m 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 defined by a focused highway experience, with 96% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm on MN 23, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 93.7 miles. Because the road is so heavily highway-oriented, you can expect a consistent pace that minimizes the need for frequent stop-and-go driving. While the transition between State Highway 23 and US 212 keeps the route moving, the road maintains a predictable character throughout the duration of the trip. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding local roads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.7 mi on MN 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and State Highway 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near MN 23 / State Highway 23.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 30m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (MN 23 / State Highway 23): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (MN 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.6 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
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
The longest stretch is about 93.7 miles on MN 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.8 miles (MN 23 / State Highway 23): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (MN 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.6 miles (10th Avenue South): 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.
