Saint Cloud, MN to Savage, MN is 79.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m via I 94 and US 169, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, making it a straightforward drive. You'll be spending most of your time on the interstate, so expect a fairly consistent pace. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is easily manageable for a single day, offering a convenient way to travel between these two Minnesota locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
47.6 mi
51m
US 169
19.9 mi
24m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
MN 13
2.7 mi
4m
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
— 47.6 mi, about 51m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Savage, 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
48 mi·51 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 29AToward US 169 SouthUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 169
20 mi·24 min·US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 116Toward US 169 BUS, MN 13, CR 101Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
2.5 mi·3 min
Toward MN 13Use the slight left lane.
13
Continue on MN 13
2.2 mi·3 min·MN 13
14
Continue on MN 13
0.5 mi·55 sec·MN 13
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
MN 13
Trip Plan
Since this drive is less than two hours and stays within Minnesota, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should give you ample daylight to complete the trip. With the estimated fuel cost at $12, you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 94 to US 169, as this is a key point where you'll change highways on your way to Savage.
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 39.6 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.6 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 39.6 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savage, 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 79.1 miles and 1h 37m.
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 47.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 73.9 — 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
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29A
Toward US 169 South
8
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 169 BUS, MN 13, CR 101
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 116
Toward US 169 BUS, MN 13, CR 101
7
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 13
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MN 13
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.99 one way
$25.97 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$13.89
$27.78
premium
$4.95
$15.41
$30.82
diesel
$5.35
$16.66
$33.32
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: 27.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.7
0
$8.31
$3.80
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.92
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.07
$5.06
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 May 23, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon
in Saint Cloud on Wednesday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 5 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 23 at 5:24AM CDT until May 23 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Savage, MN
Afternoon
in Savage on Wednesday
Local time
4:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 23 at 5:24AM CDT until May 23 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
66°F
Corcoran, MN
40 mi in
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
6 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 37m 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 be on the highway for 89% of this 79.1-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 47.6 miles on I 94. Expect to transition from the interstate to surface roads as you approach your destination, with Roosevelt Road being a key part of the final leg. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter a steady stream of exits and merges, particularly on I 94.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 169. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.1 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 53.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,037 ft701 ft
Total Climb
110 ft
Total Descent
426 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
Elevation Range
336 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Saint Cloud, MN to Savage, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 101 along the way.
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 37m. Total distance: 79.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.6 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 Savage, 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 53.2 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 Savage, MN before heading back.
