Origin
International Falls, MN
Evening in International Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from International Falls, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
265.4 mi
427 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 39m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 55m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
International Falls, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 265.4-mile journey from International Falls, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 30 minutes. You'll primarily travel on Voyageur Highway, US 10, and State Highway 64 Southwest, with a highway share of 41%. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is about $40. Given the duration and distance, it's comfortably manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel as you travel south.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.7 miles from International Falls, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Voyageur Highway | 111.1 mi | 2h 20m |
| US 10 | 64.2 mi | 1h 13m |
| State Highway 64 Southwest | 33.7 mi | 42m |
| State 64 | 28.6 mi | 35m |
| Washington Avenue South | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 200 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Paul Bunyan Expressway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Marie Avenue Southeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Voyageur Highway
— 111.1 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between International Falls, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on this road
75 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 8th Avenue
111 ft
·
5 sec
·
8th Avenue
3
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
5th Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto CR 2
84 ft
·
10 sec
·
11th Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 71; MN 11
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
3rd Street
6
Continue on US 71; MN 11
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Voyageur Highway
7
Continue on US 71
76 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
Voyageur Highway
8
Turn left onto US 71
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bemidji Rd Northeast
9
Continue on US 71
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Voyageur Highway
10
Enter roundabout onto US 71
120 ft
·
1 sec
·
Voyageur Highway
11
Continue on US 71
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Voyageur Highway
12
Merge onto US 2; US 71
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Paul Bunyan Expressway;Voyageur Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 71
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 71
Toward US 71 South, MN 197: Park Rapids, Bemidji
14
Turn right onto US 71
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Washington Avenue South
15
Continue on MN 200
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 200
16
Turn right onto MN 64
16 mi
·
19 min
·
State 64
17
At end of road, turn right onto MN 34; MN 64
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Broadway Street East
18
Turn left onto MN 64
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marie Avenue Southeast
19
Continue on MN 64
13 mi
·
16 min
·
State 64
20
Continue on MN 64; MN 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 87 Southwest / State 64
21
Turn right onto MN 64
34 mi
·
42 min
·
State Highway 64 Southwest
22
At end of road, turn right onto MN 210
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
State Highway 210
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 10
60 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
US 10
Use the right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 10
25
Turn right onto East Saint Germain Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
26
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
27
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
28
Continue on 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Street North
29
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
30
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
31
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 30-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from International Falls to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Saint Cloud. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to break up the 265.4 miles as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 111.1-mile stretch on Voyageur Highway, as services might be more spread out. The $40 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 132.7 miles from International Falls, MN, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 58 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.7 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
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 International Falls, 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 International Falls, MN
This is one driving day of about 265.4 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from International Falls, 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 Voyageur Highway for about 111.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.7 miles from International Falls, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Voyageur Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.1 miles.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.2 — 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
|
8th Avenue
Turn left onto 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Street
Turn right onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 2 / 11th Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR 2 / 11th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 71; MN 11 / 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 71; MN 11 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
110.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
US 71 / Voyageur Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 71 / Voyageur Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.50 one way
$78.99 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $42.56 | $85.12 |
| premium | $4.53 | $47.35 | $94.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.60 | $117.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.87 | $12.74 |
| Efficient EV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.22 | $10.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.2 | 1 | $37.16 | $16.99 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Evening in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
35 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Voyageurs National Park
National Park
Voyageurs National Park spans 218,000 acres of lakes, forests, and streams in northern Minnesota. Established in 1975, the park is named after the French-Canadian Voyageurs who once navigated these ab...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 41% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 111.1 miles along Voyageur Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you progress, the road character will likely shift from the Voyageur Highway to US 10 and then State Highway 64 Southwest, offering a varied driving experience. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; rather, it's a blend of open road and potentially more localized travel.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.1 mi on Voyageur Highway.
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 8th Avenue.
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 5h 30m drive. You will face about 19 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 (8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 2 / 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from International Falls, MN to Saint Cloud, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Bemidji along the way.
Bemidji
116.4 mi in
|
~2h 27m
|
via US 71
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 5h 30m. Total distance: 265.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.1 miles on Voyageur Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 2 / 11th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Voyageurs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Cloud, MN before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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