New Market to Saint Cloud is 91.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. With a highway-focused profile, it's a practical choice for a quick trip between these two locations. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient journey. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct connection with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from New Market, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
30.6 mi
33m
US 169
20.4 mi
25m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
Texas Avenue
10.1 mi
13m
Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
4m
Highway 13 South
2.5 mi
3m
260th Street East
1 mi
1m
9th Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 30.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Market, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on CR 2
0.2 mi·36 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on CR 2
1.0 mi·1 min·260th Street East
3
Turn right onto CR 27
7.1 mi·9 min·Texas Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto CR 27
98 ft·1 sec·Texas Avenue
5
Continue on CR 27
3.0 mi·4 min·Texas Avenue
6
Continue on CR 27
0.3 mi·31 sec·Dakota Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on CR 27
0.8 mi·1 min·Dakota Street South
8
Turn left onto 150th Street West
504 ft·14 sec·150th Street West
9
Turn right onto Louisiana Avenue
0.5 mi·50 sec·Louisiana Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto South Park Drive
103 ft·3 sec·South Park Drive
11
Continue on South Park Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·South Park Drive
12
Turn right onto MN 13
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 13 South
Use the right lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·53 sec
Toward US 169, CH 101
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·50 sec
Toward US 169 North, CR 101: ShakopeeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 169 North
16
Merge onto US 169
20 mi·25 min·US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 94 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 94; I 694; US 52
2.0 mi·2 min·I 94; I 694; US 52
19
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I-94 W
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 171Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
22
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft·12 sec
23
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi·4 min·Roosevelt Road
24
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft·7 sec·22nd Street South
25
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·11th Avenue South
26
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi·22 sec·15th Street South
27
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·9th Avenue South
28
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·10th Avenue South
29
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi·29 sec·1st Street North
30
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
31
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day. You can leave anytime that suits your schedule, but consider departing earlier in the day to maximize daylight. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but there are opportunities along the route if you need to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 30 miles on I-94. Since it's a short drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time as needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.9 miles from New Market, MN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.6 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
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 New Market, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Market, MN
This is one driving day of about 91.8 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from New Market, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 30.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.7 and 91.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.7 mi into trip|~20m in|MN 13 / Highway 13 South
Turn right onto MN 13 / Highway 13 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
16.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 169 North, CR 101: Shakopee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 169 North, CR 101: Shakopee
6
38.4 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
6
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
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
Exit 171
Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
6
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.66 one way
$27.32 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$14.72
$29.44
premium
$4.53
$16.38
$32.76
diesel
$5.61
$20.27
$40.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.64
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
EV Truck/SUV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
New Market, MN
Late night
in New Market on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
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
21 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
1h 55m 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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 77% of your journey on major roads like I-94 and US 169. Expect sustained speeds for significant portions of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.6 miles along I-94, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. The route offers a consistent feel, primarily utilizing interstate highways, which means a predictable driving experience. You won't find many winding backroads here; it's all about getting there efficiently.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in near MN 13 / Highway 13 South.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 13.7 miles (MN 13 / Highway 13 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Market, MN and Saint Cloud, MN, road signs point toward Ch 101, Cr 101: Shakopee, Cr 7 and 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 91.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.6 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Cloud, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 13.7 miles (MN 13 / Highway 13 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Cloud, MN before heading back.
