Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
7:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Cloud, MN to Forest Lake, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
80.8 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Forest Lake, MN covers 80.8 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street North, 9th Avenue North, West Saint Germain Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street North | — | — |
| 9th Avenue North | — | — |
| West Saint Germain Street | — | — |
| Washington Memorial Drive | — | — |
| Roosevelt Road | — | — |
| MN 610 East | — | — |
| I 35W North | — | — |
| CR 2 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
1st Street North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Forest Lake, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
269 ft
·
14 sec
·
Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 1st Street North
217 ft
·
15 sec
·
1st Street North
3
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
400 ft
·
13 sec
·
9th Avenue North
4
Turn right onto West Saint Germain Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint Germain Street
5
Turn left onto Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Memorial Drive
6
Turn left onto Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Roosevelt Road
7
Take the ramp straight
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
8
Merge slight left
41 mi
·
44 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward MN 610 East
13 mi
·
14 min
·
MN 610 East
10
Merge slight left
3.4 mi
·
3 min
11
Take the exit slight left toward I 35W North: Duluth
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W North: Duluth
12
Merge slight left
16 mi
·
16 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward CR 2: Forest Lake
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
CR 2: Forest Lake
14
Keep slight right to continue on CR 2
174 ft
·
7 sec
·
CR 2
15
Turn right onto West Broadway Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Avenue
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lake Street South
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Lake Street South
17
Exit the roundabout onto Lake Street South
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
Lake Street South
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 40.4 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 47m into the drive.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Lake, 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 80.8 miles and 1h 34m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.4 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.60 one way
$27.20 round trip
$4.28/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.75 | $15.10 | $30.20 |
| premium | $5.29 | $16.81 | $33.62 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $19.66 | $39.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Forest Lake, MN
Evening in Forest Lake on Sunday
Local time
7:26 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 34m 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?
80.8 mi in 1h 34m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: 1st Street North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Forest Lake, MN is easy. At 1h 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Forest Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,037 ft
858 ft
Total Climb
142 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
Elevation Range
179 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
- • Foley–Brower–Bohmer House — House in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
- • John N. Bensen House — house in St. Cloud, 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 1h 34m. Total distance: 80.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Forest Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Forest Lake, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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