Origin
Elmdale, MN
Late night in Elmdale on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmdale, 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
48m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmdale, MN
Barnabas Davoti
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 32-mile drive from Elmdale to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, can be completed in about 48 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The route primarily utilizes US 10 and State Highway 238, offering a highway-focused experience. As both locations are within the Midwest region of Minnesota, you won't be crossing significant geographical or cultural divides. This trip is best suited for those looking for efficiency and a direct path between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 20.5 mi | 23m |
| Nature Road | 5.4 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 238 | 4 mi | 7m |
| East Saint Germain Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 120th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Centre Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Bridge | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 20.5 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmdale, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on MN 238
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 238
2
Turn right onto CH 24
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
120th Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto CH 26; IC F
5.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Nature Road
4
Continue on CH 26; IC F
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Centre Street
5
Turn right onto US 10
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 10
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 10
7
Turn right onto East Saint Germain Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
8
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
9
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
10
Continue on 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Street North
11
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
12
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
13
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Elmdale, 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 4 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CH 24 / 120th Avenue
Turn right onto CH 24 / 120th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
10.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 10
Turn right onto US 10
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
26.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
30.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
East Saint Germain Street
Turn right onto East Saint Germain Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.76 one way
$9.52 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.13 | $10.26 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.71 | $11.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
1 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
48m 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?
The majority of this drive, about 77%, is on highways, giving it a predominantly fast-paced feel. You'll experience a longest stretch of 20.5 miles on US 10, offering a good opportunity to maintain a consistent speed. While the profile is highway-focused, the inclusion of Nature Road and State Highway 238 suggests some variation might occur as you transition between main thoroughfares. Expect a practical and efficient driving experience with minimal detours off the main path.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and Nature Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near CH 24 / 120th Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m 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 4 miles (CH 24 / 120th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 10): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 48m. Total distance: 32 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 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 4 miles (CH 24 / 120th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 10): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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