If you are looking to escape Saint Cloud for a getaway to Breezy Point, you are in for a modest 83.1-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 43 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that keeps you within the heart of the Midwest. Since the entire route consists of local roads rather than interstates, you can plan on a fuel budget of roughly $12 for the one-way trek. While the drive is short enough to complete in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert. This trip is straightforward and manageable, perfect for travelers who prefer local roads over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 371
40.4 mi
48m
US 10
32.6 mi
38m
County Road 18
4.5 mi
7m
Red Pine Drive
4.3 mi
6m
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:
MN 371
— 40.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Breezy Point, 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
32 mi·38 min·MN 371
9
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
0.4 mi·30 sec·MN 371
10
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
1.0 mi·1 min·MN 371
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
6.5 mi·8 min·MN 371
12
Turn right onto CR 18
0.1 mi·16 sec·County Road 18
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 18
138 ft·4 sec·County Road 18
14
Continue on CR 18
4.4 mi·6 min·County Road 18
15
At end of road, turn left onto CR 4
4.3 mi·6 min·Red Pine Drive
16
Turn left onto Bluebird Lane
119 ft·5 sec·Bluebird Lane
17
Arrive at destination
Bluebird Lane
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1-hour and 43-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for major rest stops, as the entire trip is designed to be completed in one go without scheduled breaks. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind before you head out, and ensure your tank is ready for the local road conditions. Because the route relies entirely on local streets rather than highways, pay close attention to street signage and turn indicators throughout the trip. Embracing the lack of highway miles allows you to enjoy a more relaxed pace, so give yourself enough time to navigate the various turns comfortably.
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 41.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 50m 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 50m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Breezy Point, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Cloud, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Cloud, MN
This is one driving day of about 83.1 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Saint Cloud, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.4 — 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
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|MN 371
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|CR 18 / County Road 18
Enter roundabout onto CR 18 / County Road 18
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.37 one way
$24.73 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$13.33
$26.65
premium
$4.53
$14.83
$29.65
diesel
$5.61
$18.35
$36.69
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: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.73
$3.99
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 21, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Breezy Point, MN
Late night
in Breezy Point on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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 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 43m 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 route is defined by a turn-heavy local profile that favors backroads over the monotony of major interstates. You will navigate through local thoroughfares like 8th Avenue North, 2nd Street North, and 1st Street North, keeping your driving experience varied and engaging. Because there is no highway share on this 83.1-mile path, you won't encounter the typical high-speed cruise control conditions found on larger transit corridors. The road demands your full attention as you transition between these local segments. Expect a hands-on driving experience where the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches keeps you active and focused on the navigation.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.
Driving Effort6/10
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 83.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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.
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 1h 43m. Total distance: 83.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). 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 Breezy Point, 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: 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 Breezy Point, MN before heading back.
