Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
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
Hopkins, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN to Hopkins, MN is 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within the Midwest region of Minnesota, so you won't be crossing state lines or experiencing drastic landscape changes. Most of the drive is on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points. Given the short duration, it’s ideal for a same-day excursion with minimal planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.4 mi | 48m |
| I 494 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Washington Memorial Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Germain Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Woodhill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 9th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,218 veh/hr typical · worst 4,035
Quietest
2 AM
~172 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Hopkins, MN.
Start on Courthouse Square
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Turn right onto West Saint Germain Street
Turn left onto Washington Memorial Drive
Turn left onto CR 75
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Continue on I 494
Take the exit
Turn straight onto MN 7
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Woodhill Road
Turn left onto Wood Hill Terrace
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 62.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$10.70 one way
$21.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.75 | $11.88 | $23.77 |
| premium | $5.29 | $13.23 | $26.47 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $15.48 | $30.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Cloudy
Destination
Night in Hopkins on Sunday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Cloudy
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 route features a high highway share at 89%, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your time on interstates. You'll experience a continuous 45.4-mile stretch on I 94, offering a consistent cruising experience. Expect numerous exits as you approach the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, requiring attention to changing traffic patterns. The final portion will transition from highway to Roosevelt Road as you enter Hopkins.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
172 ft
Total Descent
181 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
Elevation Range
137 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Saint Cloud, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
Monticello, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: closed
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
St. Cloud, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
St. Cloud, MN
Cuisine: greek
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-14:30; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su,Mo...
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Saint Cloud, MN
Cuisine: mexican
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
St. Cloud, MN
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: 10:00-01:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Later in the drive, right off the route
Rogers, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-20:30; Sa 08:00-20:30; Su 09...
Visit websiteCamp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
MN
Park
Near the start, short detour
St. Cloud, MN
Viewpoint
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
MN
Visit websiteMonument
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Monument
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Monument
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
MN
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
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 16m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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