Saint Cloud, MN to Vermillion, MN is 98.2 miles and takes about 1h 57m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these two points. With minimal stops recommended, it's ideal for a day trip or an easy connection to another journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
52.3 mi
57m
Lafayette Freeway
13.3 mi
16m
I 694
11.7 mi
12m
US 52
6.9 mi
8m
Voyageur Highway
5.5 mi
6m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
190th Street East
1.9 mi
2m
Washington Memorial Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 52.3 mi, about 57m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,434 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,965
Quietest
2 AM
~208 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 Vermillion, 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 right at fork onto US 10
5.5 mi·6 min·Voyageur Highway
Exit 46Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St PaulUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
0.6 mi·36 sec·US 10
Exit 107AToward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta StreetUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 52
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 52
Exit 242DToward US 52Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 52
13 mi·16 min·Lafayette Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
6.6 mi·7 min·US 52
Toward RochesterUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
142 ft·5 sec
Toward CR 62 EastUse the left lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 62
1.9 mi·2 min·190th Street East
17
Continue on CR 62
0.4 mi·46 sec·Main Street West
18
Arrive at destination
CR 62
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, you can easily tackle this trip in a single day. Aim to depart Saint Cloud in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic. Since the drive is not overly long, you can be flexible with any planned stops for fuel or a quick break, perhaps stopping around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $15, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway stretches like the 52.3-mile segment on I 94.
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 49.1 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 58m 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 58m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vermillion, 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 98.2 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 57.9 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
9
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 10 / Voyageur Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 / Voyageur Highway toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward US 10 East, I 35 South: St Paul
9
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th Street, Wacouta Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward US 10 East, I 94 East, US 52 South: 10th...
7
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 242D
Toward US 52
7
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 52
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 toward Rochester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Rochester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.52 one way
$33.04 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$17.79
$35.58
premium
$5.04
$19.47
$38.94
diesel
$5.64
$21.80
$43.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.31
$4.71
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.59
$3.93
EV Truck/SUV
39.3
0
$13.75
$6.28
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 10, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Afternoon
in Saint Cloud on Friday
Local time
1:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
NNW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:26AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 3:37AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Vermillion, MN
Afternoon
in Vermillion on Friday
Local time
1:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:26AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 10 at 3:37AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
3 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 57m 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 86% of the drive on interstates. You'll experience a substantial stretch of 52.3 miles on I 94 without needing to exit. The majority of your travel will be on high-speed limited-access roads, with surface streets becoming more prevalent closer to your destination. Be prepared for the dense exit activity that often accompanies interstate travel as you approach more populated areas.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Lafayette Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.9 miles in near I 694.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.2 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,037 ft709 ft
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
473 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
Elevation Range
328 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 Vermillion, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Rochester 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 57m. Total distance: 98.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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 12 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 Vermillion, 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 57.9 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles (US 10 / Voyageur Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.1 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Vermillion, MN before heading back.
