Saint Cloud, MN to North Branch, MN is 60.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via Highway 95 Northeast, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive that keeps you on one main highway for the majority of the way. Expect a fairly direct path with minimal need for complex navigation, making it a good option for a quick trip or a leg of a larger journey.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 95 Northeast
23.2 mi
29m
Highway 95 Northwest
12.9 mi
16m
State Highway 95
12.5 mi
16m
3rd Street Southeast
5.3 mi
7m
1st Avenue West
2.8 mi
5m
Saint Croix Trail
1.9 mi
3m
15th Street Northeast
0.6 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 95 Northeast
— 23.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and North Branch, MN.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
7 ft·2 sec·Courthouse Square
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft·13 sec·8th Avenue North
3
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
393 ft·9 sec·2nd Street North
4
Continue on 1st Street North
0.1 mi·21 sec·1st Street North
5
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.2 mi·39 sec·5th Avenue North
6
Turn left onto MN 23
0.2 mi·31 sec·2nd Street South
7
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi·21 sec·Granite City Crossing
8
Continue on MN 23
5.3 mi·7 min·3rd Street Southeast
9
Turn right onto MN 95
0.6 mi·48 sec·15th Street Northeast
10
Continue on MN 95
14 mi·16 min·Highway 95 Northeast
11
Continue on MN 95
7.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 95
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 95
120 ft·2 sec·State Highway 95
13
Continue on MN 95
1.2 mi·2 min·State Highway 95
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 95
112 ft·2 sec·State Highway 95
15
Continue on MN 95
3.5 mi·4 min·State Highway 95
16
Continue on MN 95
5.9 mi·7 min·Highway 95 Northwest
17
Enter roundabout onto MN 95
135 ft·2 sec·Highway 95 Northwest
18
Continue on MN 95
6.9 mi·8 min·Highway 95 Northwest
19
Continue on MN 95
2.8 mi·5 min·1st Avenue West
20
Continue on MN 95
9.6 mi·12 min·Highway 95 Northeast
21
Continue on MN 95
1.9 mi·3 min·Saint Croix Trail
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on MN 95
0.4 mi·41 sec·Main Street
23
Turn right onto CR 30
36 ft·0 sec·Forest Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 30.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Avenue North
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Street North
Turn right onto 2nd Street North
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
38.7 mi into trip|~51m in|MN 95 / Highway 95 Northwest
Enter roundabout onto MN 95 / Highway 95 Northwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|CR 30 / Forest Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 30 / Forest Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.92 one way
$19.83 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$10.61
$21.21
premium
$4.95
$11.77
$23.53
diesel
$5.35
$12.72
$25.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.1
0
$6.34
$2.90
Efficient EV
15.1
0
$5.29
$2.42
EV Truck/SUV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 9, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon
in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Frost
NW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
North Branch, MN
Afternoon
in North Branch on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Frost
NW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 9 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
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 21m 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?
You'll spend about 80% of this 60.4-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 23.2 miles along Highway 95 Northeast. After that, the route transitions to surface roads for the remaining miles. Expect a mix of consistent highway cruising and then a more local feel as you approach your destination.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.2 mi on Highway 95 Northeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 95 Northeast and Highway 95 Northwest. 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.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Cloud, MN to North Branch, MN is easy. At 1h 21m with 80% 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.
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
Chisago County is a county in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
Its principal settlements are:
Taylors Falls, which abuts the St. Croix River which separates Minnesota and Wisconsin.
North Branch
Chisago City, a northern suburb of the Twin Cities in the Chisago Lakes area, comprising Lindstrom and Center City.
The longest stretch is about 23.2 miles on Highway 95 Northeast. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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.
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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Branch, MN before heading back.
