Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Evening in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
7:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 10, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
154.9 mi
249 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
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
Saint Cloud, MN to Fredenberg, MN is 154.9 miles and takes about 3h 4m via Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive and I 35, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that mostly utilizes highways but also includes some surface roads. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it's a practical choice for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.4 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive | 36.2 mi | 38m |
| MN 23 | 34.4 mi | 39m |
| I 35 | 29.5 mi | 31m |
| Forest Avenue East | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| 3rd Street Southeast | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| Midway Road | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| Lavaque Road | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| Lavaque Bypass Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Fredenberg, MN.
Start on Courthouse Square
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
Continue on 1st Street North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Turn left onto MN 23
Continue on MN 23
Continue on MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Continue on MN 23
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
Continue on MN 23
Take the exit onto MN 23
Continue on I 35
Take the exit
Turn left onto CH 13
Enter roundabout onto CH 13
Continue on CH 13
Enter roundabout onto MN 194
Continue on MN 194
Merge onto US 53; MN 194
Turn left onto Ugstad Road
Turn straight onto CH 48
Continue on CH 48
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour drive time, it’s best to start your trip in the morning to allow for flexibility. The route is manageable in a single day, so you can decide on your stop timing as you go; just one is officially recommended. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $25 for the 154.9 miles. Since you won't be on the highway for the entire duration, be prepared for potential traffic or slower speeds on the surface road sections, especially if you encounter any local events.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fredenberg, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Cloud, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Cloud, MN
This is one driving day of about 154.9 miles and 3h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 133.2 — 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 right onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto MN 23 / Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive toward Interstate 35 North: Duluth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward CR 13: Midway Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$25.28 one way
$50.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $27.21 | $54.42 |
| premium | $4.95 | $30.21 | $60.41 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $36.39 | $72.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.26 | $7.44 |
| Efficient EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.55 | $6.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62 | 0 | $21.69 | $9.91 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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
Evening in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
7:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Fredenberg on Wednesday
Local time
7:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
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.
This route offers a mix of highway and surface driving. About 42% of the total 154.9 miles are on highways, primarily I 35. You'll experience a longest stretch of 36.2 miles on Veterans' Evergreen Memorial Drive before transitioning to other road types. Expect some periods of higher-speed cruising mixed with more local road travel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Fredenberg, MN is easy. At 3h 4m with 42% 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 0.3 miles (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
545 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
1,417 ft
~143.8 mi in
Elevation Range
404 ft
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 3h 4m. Total distance: 154.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Straightforward navigation.
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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