Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
70.3 mi
113 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Carlos, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN to Carlos, MN is 70.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via I-94 W, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within the Midwest region, staying within Minnesota. The route is mostly highway-focused, making it an efficient journey. Given the relatively short duration and minimal stops, it's a good option for a quick relocation or a short weekend excursion. You'll find it's a simple drive with little complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-94 W | 43.4 mi | 46m |
| County Road 9 Northeast | 6.4 mi | 15m |
| County Road 75 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Douglas County Highway 82 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 27 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Street North | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Division Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Nokomis Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Carlos, MN.
Start on Courthouse Square
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Street North
Turn left onto MN 15
Turn right onto CR 75
Continue on CR 75
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn right onto MN 27
Turn left onto CR 3
At end of road, turn left onto East Nokomis Street
Continue on CR 82
Turn right onto CR 9
Continue on CR 9
Continue on CR 9
Continue on CR 9
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
Given the drive's short duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility with departure times. Leaving Saint Cloud mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Carlos with ample time to settle in. While there are no designated stops in the data, consider taking a brief pause on I-94 W if needed, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at a low $10, so you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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.
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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.1 miles or 44m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlos, MN than in the middle of the route.
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 70.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward CR 3, MN 27: Osakis, Westport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto East Nokomis Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.27 | $22.55 |
| premium | $4.53 | $12.54 | $25.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.52 | $31.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 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 | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Carlos on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
54°F
Albany, MN
35 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is heavily influenced by its highway focus, with 71% of the journey on major roads like I-94 W. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 43.4 miles on I-94 W, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions from the interstate to County Road 9 Northeast and then County Road 75, suggesting a shift from faster highway travel to more local road driving as you approach your destination. Expect a generally efficient and predictable driving experience for the majority of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-94 W and County Road 9 Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 8th Avenue North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Cloud, MN and Carlos, MN, road signs point toward Cr 3 and Westport.
Cr 3
Westport
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 70.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
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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