Embark on a straightforward 153.2-mile journey from Lakewood to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, a trip that can comfortably be completed in about 3 hours. This route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of the drive utilizing major roads like I-35 and MN 23, including Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $23 and only one recommended stop, this makes for an ideal single-day trip. You'll be traversing within the Midwest region throughout your drive, experiencing a consistent landscape. The overall feel is practical and efficient, perfect for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
76.6 miles from Lakewood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
79 mi
1h 27m
MN 23
50.7 mi
1h
Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
16.6 mi
19m
MN 61
6.4 mi
12m
7th Avenue South
0.2 mi
<1m
Lakewood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Courthouse Square
0.1 mi
<1m
East Superior Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 79 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on East Superior Street
35 ft·7 sec·East Superior Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Lakewood Road
0.2 mi·33 sec·Lakewood Road
3
Turn sharp left onto MN 61
6.4 mi·12 min·MN 61
4
Turn left onto I 35
4.0 mi·5 min·I 35
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
75 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 35
6
Take the exit onto MN 23
0.2 mi·27 sec·Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
7
Continue on MN 23; CR 61
16 mi·18 min·Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
8
Continue on MN 23; CR 11
1.2 mi·1 min·MN 23; CR 11
9
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
1.7 mi·2 min·MN 23; MN 65
10
Turn right onto MN 23
33 mi·37 min·MN 23
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
125 ft·1 sec·MN 23
12
Continue on MN 23
15 mi·19 min·MN 23
13
Turn right onto 7th Avenue South
0.2 mi·38 sec·7th Avenue South
14
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
222 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
15
Continue on Courthouse Square
363 ft·16 sec·Courthouse Square
16
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration and 153.2-mile distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to enjoy daylight driving and arrive in Saint Cloud with plenty of time. With a fuel cost of around $23, it's a budget-friendly excursion. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 79 miles on I-35, so plan your comfort breaks accordingly. A good tip is to utilize the single recommended stop strategically, perhaps for a quick stretch or to top off your tank before the final leg into Saint Cloud.
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 76.6 miles from Lakewood, MN, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 26m
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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, MN
This is one driving day of about 153.2 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Lakewood, 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 I 35 for about 79 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 153.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lakewood Road
Turn sharp right onto Lakewood Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MN 61
Turn sharp left onto MN 61
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
85.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive
Take the exit onto MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 23 West, CR 61: Mora
5
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
153.1 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|Courthouse Square
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.80 one way
$45.60 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$24.57
$49.13
premium
$4.53
$27.33
$54.67
diesel
$5.61
$33.82
$67.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.35
Efficient EV
38.3
0
$13.40
$6.13
EV Truck/SUV
61.3
0
$21.45
$9.80
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 Mar 1, 2021
Origin
Lakewood, MN
Late night
in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Hinckley, MN
77 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
25 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 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 drive leans heavily into its highway-focused profile, with a substantial 89% of the route on high-speed roads. Expect long stretches of efficient travel, including a significant 79-mile segment on I-35. While Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive offers a slightly different feel, the majority of your time will be spent on interstates and well-maintained state highways. The character is one of steady progress, allowing you to cover ground quickly and reliably. You'll experience the rhythm of consistent speeds for the bulk of the 3-hour duration.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and MN 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lakewood Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h drive. You will face about 9 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 (Lakewood Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (MN 61): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 85.6 miles (MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Lakewood, MN to Saint Cloud, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 61: Mora along the way.
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 79 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 (Lakewood Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (MN 61): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 85.6 miles (MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Cloud, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
