Saint Cloud, MN to Fridley, MN is 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 14m via I 94 and I 694, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a straightforward local drive. With a high highway percentage, you can expect efficient travel for most of the journey. It's a short enough trip to complete in one day, offering flexibility for when you want to depart or if you encounter any minor delays.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
52.3 mi
57m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
I 694
2.4 mi
2m
University Avenue Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
1m
West Saint Germain Street
0.5 mi
1m
9th Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Courthouse Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 52.3 mi, about 57m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,736 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,292
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Fridley, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
270 ft·13 sec·Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 1st Street North
215 ft·14 sec·1st Street North
3
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
399 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 CR 75
3.9 mi·6 min·Roosevelt Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
8
Merge onto I 94
52 mi·57 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
2.4 mi·2 min·I 694
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 37Toward MN 47: University AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward MN 47Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto MN 47
1.3 mi·2 min·University Avenue Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 6
49 ft·1 sec·Mississippi Street Northeast
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 6
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 30.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 61.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street North
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Avenue North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
7
60.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MN 47: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward MN 47: University Avenue
8
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 47
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 47
6
61.8 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|CR 6 / Mississippi Street Northeast
Turn right onto CR 6 / Mississippi Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.28 one way
$18.56 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$10.02
$20.04
premium
$4.60
$11.19
$22.39
diesel
$4.80
$11.67
$23.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.5
0
$6.49
$2.97
Efficient EV
15.5
0
$5.41
$2.47
EV Truck/SUV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Jun 27, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Morning
in Saint Cloud on Monday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 27 at 3:52AM CDT until June 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 27 at 1:27AM CDT until June 30 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Fridley, MN
Morning
in Fridley on Monday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 27 at 3:52AM CDT until June 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 27 at 1:27AM CDT until June 30 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
90°F
Albertville, MN
31 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 14m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 88% of the 61.8 miles on major interstates like I 94 and I 694. You'll experience a longest stretch of 52.3 miles on I 94, indicating a significant period of consistent highway cruising. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur in the final miles as you approach Fridley. The high highway share suggests a steady pace with fewer interruptions until the very end.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Roosevelt Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street 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 61.8 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: at 0.1 miles (1st Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 60.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 14m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Fridley, 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: at 0.1 miles (1st Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (9th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 60.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fridley, MN before heading back.
