This 120.5-mile drive from Red Wing, MN, to Saint Cloud, MN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 32 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-94, with portions of US-10 and the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway contributing to the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, this Midwest route offers a straightforward path. The highway-focused profile suggests a direct and efficient travel experience, making it ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. Consider this a practical option for a quick transition between these two Minnesota locales.
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
60.2 miles from Red Wing, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
30.7 mi
33m
US 10
24.5 mi
30m
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
17.7 mi
21m
I-94 W
17.1 mi
18m
Route 61
11.7 mi
15m
Red Wing Boulevard
5.9 mi
8m
Roosevelt Road
3.1 mi
4m
Highway 316 Boulevard
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 30.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Wing, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on West 5th Street
42 ft·3 sec·West 5th Street
2
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 61
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 61
6.5 mi·9 min·Route 61
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
5.2 mi·6 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
23 ft·0 sec·Highway 316 Boulevard
7
Continue on MN 316
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 316 Boulevard
8
Continue on MN 316
1.8 mi·2 min·Polk Avenue
9
Continue on MN 316
4.9 mi·7 min·Red Wing Boulevard
10
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
73 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
11
Continue on MN 316
0.5 mi·43 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
64 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
13
Continue on MN 316
0.4 mi·32 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
70 ft·1 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
15
Continue on MN 316
0.1 mi·9 sec·Red Wing Boulevard
16
Turn right onto US 61
1.8 mi·3 min·Vermillion Street
17
Continue on US 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
18
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi·14 sec·Hastings Road South
19
Continue on US 61
17 mi·20 min·Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto US 10; US 61
0.6 mi·56 sec·US 10; US 61
21
Merge onto I 94
2.1 mi·2 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 10
5.1 mi·6 min·US 10
Exit 242BToward I 35E North, US 10 WestUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 10
Exit 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 10
19 mi·22 min·US 10
Exit 113Toward I 694 West, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I-94 W
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the straight / left lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
29 mi·30 min·I 94
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 171Toward CR 7, CR 75: Saint Augusta, Saint Cloud
28
Keep slight right at fork
521 ft·12 sec
29
Turn straight onto CR 75
3.1 mi·4 min·Roosevelt Road
30
Turn right onto 22nd Street South
127 ft·7 sec·22nd Street South
31
Turn left onto 11th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·11th Avenue South
32
Turn right onto 15th Street South
0.1 mi·22 sec·15th Street South
33
At end of road, turn left onto 9th Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·9th Avenue South
34
Continue on 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·10th Avenue South
35
Turn right onto 1st Street North
0.1 mi·29 sec·1st Street North
36
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
270 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
37
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 32-minute duration for this 120.5-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. You can easily complete this drive in one day, so there's no need to plan for an overnight stop. With a fuel cost estimate of $17, budgeting is straightforward. While the drive is largely on I-94, be mindful of the transitions onto US-10 and the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway, as these might be areas where you'll want to ensure you're in the correct lane. The longest stretch without a major change is 30.7 miles on I-94, so plan your stops accordingly if you prefer more frequent breaks.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Red Wing, MN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 20m 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 3m
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 Red Wing, 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 Red Wing, MN
This is one driving day of about 120.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Red Wing, 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 94 for about 30.7 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 8 and 120.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8 mi into trip|~12m in|US 61 / Route 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 / Route 61
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
45.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
6
115 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
120.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|Courthouse Square
At end of road, turn left onto Courthouse Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.93 one way
$35.87 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$19.32
$38.65
premium
$4.53
$21.50
$43.00
diesel
$5.61
$26.60
$53.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.87
$7.71
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Red Wing, MN
Morning
in Red Wing on Tuesday
Local time
11:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Morning
in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
11:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
15 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
2h 32m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this 120.5-mile journey, with 71% of the route utilizing major highways like I-94. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.7 miles on I-94, providing a period of consistent cruising. While the majority of the drive is on faster roads, transitions onto US-10 and the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway will introduce some variation. This mix means you'll experience both efficient interstate travel and slightly more varied road conditions as you progress toward Saint Cloud.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near US 61 / Route 61.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 120.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on I 94. 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.
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: at 8 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Cloud, MN before heading back.
