Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Brainerd, 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
1h 17m
Distance
63.4 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Brainerd, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 63.4-mile drive from Saint Cloud to Brainerd, Minnesota, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 17 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily follows US 10 and MN 371, with 96% of the journey on highways, so you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $9, this trip is budget-friendly. It's a simple, efficient drive through the Midwest region of Minnesota, ideal for a quick getaway or a necessary commute without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 32.6 mi | 38m |
| MN 371 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 210 | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Saint Germain Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Bridge | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 32.6 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Brainerd, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
13 sec
·
8th Avenue North
3
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
393 ft
·
9 sec
·
2nd Street North
4
Continue on 1st Street North
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
1st Street North
5
Continue on Veterans Bridge
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
6
Continue on East Saint Germain Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Germain Street
7
Turn left onto US 10
33 mi
·
38 min
·
US 10
8
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
27 mi
·
31 min
·
MN 371
9
Turn right onto MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 210
10
Continue on MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
11
Turn right onto MN 371 Business
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
South 6th Street
12
Arrive at destination
MN 371 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Saint Cloud, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
8th Avenue North
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street North
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
33.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
MN 371
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
MN 371 Business / South 6th Street
Turn right onto MN 371 Business / South 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.44 one way
$18.87 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.17 | $20.33 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.00 | $28.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.04 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Brainerd, MN
Late night in Brainerd on Tuesday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 17m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the 63.4 miles utilizing major roadways like US 10 and MN 371. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.6 miles on US 10, offering a consistent pace. This route generally provides a smooth driving experience without significant changes in road type, allowing for a predictable journey. It's less about winding scenic byways and more about efficient travel, ideal for covering ground quickly.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.6 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Brainerd, MN is easy. At 1h 17m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (MN 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,211 ft
1,037 ft
Total Climb
228 ft
Total Descent
54 ft
Highest Point
1,211 ft
~63.4 mi in
Elevation Range
174 ft
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Brainerd, MN
Full guide →Brainerd is a city in Northwestern Minnesota.
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 17m. Total distance: 63.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.6 miles on US 10. 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 (8th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (2nd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (MN 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brainerd, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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