Origin
Nisswa, MN
Late night in Nisswa on Saturday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nisswa, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
74.8 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nisswa, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Nisswa, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is 74.8 miles and takes about 1h 31m via MN 371 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, covering ground in Minnesota. Expect a straightforward drive that's almost entirely on main highways, making it a quick connection between these two points. It's a solid option if you need to get from the Nisswa area down to Saint Cloud without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.4 miles from Nisswa, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 371 | 40.4 mi | 48m |
| US 10 | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| East Saint Germain Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Bridge | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| County Road 18 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 371
— 40.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nisswa, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
2
Turn right
137 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CR 18
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Road 18
5
Continue on CR 18
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
County Road 18
6
Turn left onto MN 371
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 371
7
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 371
8
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
MN 371
9
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
32 mi
·
38 min
·
MN 371
10
Merge onto US 10
28 mi
·
32 min
·
US 10
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 10
12
Turn right onto East Saint Germain Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
13
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
14
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Street North
15
Continue on 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Street North
16
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
17
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
18
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given this is a short trip of just over an hour and a half, leaving anytime in the morning or early afternoon works well, offering flexibility. Since it's a quick drive, you likely won't need many long stops, but if you do, consider a brief break around the halfway point. You'll be on major roads for almost the entire route, so keep an eye out for the transition from MN 371 to US 10. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should be sufficient for this 74.8-mile drive.
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 37.4 miles from Nisswa, MN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.4 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.4 miles or 46m 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 16m
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 Nisswa, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nisswa, MN
This is one driving day of about 74.8 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Nisswa, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MN 371 for about 40.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.4 miles from Nisswa, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 74.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 18 / County Road 18
Enter roundabout onto CR 18 / County Road 18
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
40.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
74.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn left onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.21 one way
$24.42 round trip
$4.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $13.14 | $26.28 |
| premium | $4.95 | $14.59 | $29.17 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $17.57 | $35.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.85 | $3.59 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $2.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.47 | $4.79 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Saturday
Local time
1:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
2 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 31m 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?
You'll spend nearly all of your time on highways, with a 98% highway share for this 74.8-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 40.4 miles, primarily on MN 371. As you approach Saint Cloud, expect the highway environment to transition, likely with more frequent exits and merging traffic as you get closer to the city.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.4 mi on MN 371.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 371 and US 10. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (CR 18 / County Road 18): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
About the Cities
Starting in Nisswa, MN
Full guide →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 1h 31m. Total distance: 74.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on MN 371. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (CR 18 / County Road 18): 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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