Origin
Milaca, MN
Late night in Milaca on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milaca, 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
36m
Distance
29.2 mi
47 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milaca, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 29.2-mile drive from Milaca to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, is easily manageable in about 36 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate on MN 23, with some time on 4th Avenue and 3rd Avenue Southwest. Given its short length and low estimated fuel cost of around $4, this route offers a convenient option for a quick journey within the Midwest. There are no planned stops, so you can complete the entire trip without needing to break it up, allowing for a flexible schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 23 | 15.1 mi | 19m |
| 4th Avenue | 13.5 mi | 15m |
| 3rd Avenue Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Courthouse Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 15.1 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milaca, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
95 ft
·
9 sec
·
2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Northwest
342 ft
·
15 sec
·
3rd Avenue Northwest
3
Continue on 3rd Avenue Southwest
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
4
Turn right onto MN 23
13 mi
·
15 min
·
4th Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
125 ft
·
1 sec
·
MN 23
6
Continue on MN 23
15 mi
·
19 min
·
MN 23
7
Turn right onto 7th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
7th Avenue South
8
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
222 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Square
9
Continue on Courthouse Square
363 ft
·
16 sec
·
Courthouse Square
10
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.1 — 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
|
3rd Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MN 23 / 4th Avenue
Turn right onto MN 23 / 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
28.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
7th Avenue South
Turn right onto 7th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
29.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
Courthouse Square
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.35 one way
$8.69 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
4:09 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
36m 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?
This drive presents a mixed experience, with just over half of the journey on highway roads. You'll encounter a 15.1-mile stretch on MN 23, which forms the longest uninterrupted segment. Expect a blend of faster-paced driving on the main highway sections and potentially more local traffic as you approach and enter Saint Cloud. The character of the road shifts gradually, transitioning from more open highway conditions to a more developed, urban feel as you near your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.1 mi on MN 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Avenue Northwest.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Milaca, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is easy. At 36m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MN 23 / 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 36m. Total distance: 29.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.1 miles on MN 23. 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: near the start (3rd Avenue Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MN 23 / 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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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