Saint Cloud to Mahtomedi is 78.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward connection between these two cities. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
52.3 mi
57m
I 694
16.8 mi
19m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
Wildwood Road
1.3 mi
2m
North Century Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Mahtomedi Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
1m
West Saint Germain Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 52.3 mi, about 57m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,798 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,561
Quietest
2 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 99 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 Mahtomedi, 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
12 mi·12 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
1.3 mi·1 min·I 694
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
3.8 mi·4 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 51Toward MN 120: Century AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto MN 120
0.9 mi·1 min·North Century Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on MN 120
0.2 mi·29 sec·East County Line Road
15
Turn right onto CH 12
1.3 mi·2 min·Wildwood Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on MN 244
0.8 mi·2 min·Mahtomedi Avenue
17
Turn right onto Juniper Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Juniper Street
18
Turn left onto Griffin Avenue
467 ft·19 sec·Griffin Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Griffin Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this relatively short 1 hour 36 minute drive, consider leaving Saint Cloud mid-morning to avoid the busiest commuter traffic. With only 78.6 miles, you have plenty of flexibility and don't need to rush stops. The $12 fuel estimate is quite manageable, so you likely won't need to worry about finding stations. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 694 to Roosevelt Road, as this marks the shift from highway cruising to more local navigation as you approach Mahtomedi.
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 39.3 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 miles.
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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 48m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mahtomedi, 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 78.6 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saint Cloud, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 52.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 74.7 — 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
6
57.9 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 694
Keep slight right at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward MN 120: Century Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward MN 120: Century Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.28 one way
$26.55 round trip
$4.29/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.77
$14.76
$29.52
premium
$5.31
$16.42
$32.84
diesel
$6.18
$19.14
$38.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.88
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$11.00
$5.03
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.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Morning
in Saint Cloud on Sunday
Local time
6:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Mahtomedi, MN
Morning
in Mahtomedi on Sunday
Local time
6:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 36m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 88% of the 78.6 miles on interstates like I 94 and I 694. You'll experience a longest stretch of 52.3 miles on I 94 before transitioning to Roosevelt Road. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you navigate these major corridors. The final portion of the drive will be on surface roads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 694. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street North.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
•Foley–Brower–Bohmer House — House in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
•John N. Bensen House — house in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 78.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 Mahtomedi, 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mahtomedi, MN before heading back.
