Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Dassel, 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
50m
Distance
37.7 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Dassel, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Saint Cloud, MN to Dassel, MN is 37.7 miles and takes about 50 minutes via MN-15 S, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a straightforward local excursion. Given the minimal driving time and low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a spontaneous day trip or as a quick connection between these two communities. You'll spend most of your time on well-traveled roads, so expect a predictable and easy drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN-15 S | 34.6 mi | 44m |
| 3rd Street North | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Parker Avenue West | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 16th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 8th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Courthouse Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN-15 S
— 34.6 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Dassel, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
2 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
3
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
4
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
16 sec
·
16th Avenue North
5
Turn left onto 3rd Street North
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street North
6
Turn left onto MN 15
35 mi
·
44 min
·
MN-15 S
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto US 12
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Parker Avenue West
8
Turn left onto 1st Street
75 ft
·
1 sec
·
1st Street
9
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 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
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.9 — 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
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street North
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
16th Avenue North
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MN 15 / MN-15 S
Turn left onto MN 15 / MN-15 S
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
36.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 12 / Parker Avenue West
Turn left onto US 12 / Parker Avenue West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.15 one way
$12.31 round trip
$4.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
| premium | $4.95 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $8.86 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Dassel, MN
Late night in Dassel on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Rockville, MN
19 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 37.7 miles on roads like MN-15 S. You'll experience a long stretch of 34.6 miles on MN-15 S before transitioning to surface streets like 3rd Street North and Parker Avenue West. Expect relatively continuous driving with fewer interruptions for about 45 minutes before reaching Dassel. The bulk of the route features a straightforward, open-road feel.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.6 mi on MN-15 S.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN-15 S and 3rd Street North. 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 Dassel, MN is easy. At 50m with 92% 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 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,177 ft
1,037 ft
Total Climb
227 ft
Total Descent
174 ft
Highest Point
1,177 ft
~18.8 mi in
Elevation Range
140 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 Dassel, MN
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Universal Laboratories Building — building in Dassel, 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 50m. Total distance: 37.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.6 miles on MN-15 S. 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 0.6 miles (16th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dassel, 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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