Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
53.1 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Independence to Saint Cloud is 53.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via I-94 and MN-55, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The drive is primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward and efficient way to get from point A to point B. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for a quick excursion or a segment of a larger journey, with minimal time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 21.9 mi | 23m |
| MN 55 | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 25 | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Dogwood Street | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 9th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
Start on Valley Road
Turn right onto US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
Enter roundabout
Continue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 92
Continue on this road
Continue on CR 92
Turn left onto MN 55
Continue on MN 55
Continue on MN 55
Continue on MN 55; CR 35
Turn right onto MN 25
Turn left
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto CR 75
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
Turn right onto 15th Street South
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
Continue on 10th Avenue South
Turn right onto 1st Street North
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Independence, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 53.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto CR 92 / County Road 92
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto MN 55
Lane positioning matters here
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
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Regular Gas
$7.90 one way
$15.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.51 | $17.03 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.47 | $18.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.72 | $23.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.58 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
28°F
Slight Chance Light Snow
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 80% of this 53.1-mile drive on highways. The longest stretch on a highway is 21.9 miles on I-94. After the highway portions, the route transitions to surface roads, specifically State Highway 25, for the remaining miles. Expect a mix of higher-speed cruising and then more typical surface road driving as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (CR 92 / County Road 92): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (MN 55): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Independence, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Cr 7 and Cr 75: Saint Augusta.
Cr 7
Cr 75: Saint Augusta
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 53.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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