Connecting Saint Cloud to Waconia is a straightforward 66.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a compact trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $9 on fuel for the round trip, making it an affordable regional connection. The route relies on a mix of I-94, State Highway 25, and County Road 10 to navigate between these two Minnesota hubs. Whether you are heading out for work or a day trip, the modest duration offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.2 miles from Saint Cloud, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
22.1 mi
23m
State Highway 25
21.7 mi
30m
County Road 10
7.6 mi
10m
Roosevelt Road
3.9 mi
6m
Waconia Parkway North
1.4 mi
3m
US 12
1.3 mi
1m
18th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Southeast Ahern Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 22.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Waconia, 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
22 mi·23 min·I 94
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
10
Turn right onto MN 25
7.5 mi·10 min·State Highway 25
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MN 25
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 25
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on MN 25; CR 35
0.2 mi·26 sec·Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35
111 ft·6 sec·Central Avenue
14
Continue on MN 25; CR 35
0.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on MN 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Boulevard South
16
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi·21 sec·MN 25
Use the straight lane.
17
Enter roundabout onto MN 25
92 ft·5 sec·State Highway 25
18
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Highway 25
19
Continue on MN 25
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeast Ahern Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Continue on MN 25
5.7 mi·7 min·State Highway 25
Use the straight lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 12; MN 25
0.3 mi·20 sec·60th Street Southeast
22
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
1.3 mi·1 min·US 12; MN 25
23
Continue on US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi·1 min·Nelson Boulevard
24
Turn left onto MN 25
0.4 mi·52 sec·Buffalo Avenue South
25
Continue on MN 25
6.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 25
26
Continue on MN 25
1.2 mi·1 min·18th Street
27
Turn right onto MN 25; CR 10
0.2 mi·24 sec·Jefferson Avenue Northwest
28
Turn left onto CR 10
0.3 mi·44 sec·Territorial Street West
29
Enter roundabout onto CR 10
100 ft·2 sec·Territorial Street East
30
Continue on CR 10
0.2 mi·27 sec·Territorial Street East
31
Enter roundabout onto CR 10
62 ft·1 sec·White Street
32
Continue on CR 10
0.3 mi·42 sec·White Street
33
Continue on CR 10
4.0 mi·5 min·County Road 10
34
Enter roundabout onto County Road 10
184 ft·3 sec·County Road 10
35
Continue on County Road 10
3.6 mi·4 min·County Road 10
36
Enter roundabout onto Waconia Parkway North
215 ft·3 sec·Waconia Parkway North
37
Continue on Waconia Parkway North
1.4 mi·3 min·Waconia Parkway North
38
Continue on North Walnut Street
407 ft·16 sec·North Walnut Street
39
Turn left onto Main Street West
0.3 mi·48 sec·Main Street West
40
Turn left onto North Olive Street
210 ft·11 sec·North Olive Street
41
Turn right
175 ft·14 sec
42
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
43
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it best suits your plans without needing to worry about mid-trip rest stops. Keep in mind that with zero planned stops in the data, you should fuel up in Saint Cloud before you head out to ensure you stay within your $9 budget. Pay close attention to the transition points between the interstate and the state and county roads, as traffic flow will change significantly at these junctions. Taking advantage of the route's flexibility means you can easily adjust your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider timing your arrival to Waconia for a mid-day window to make the most of your time there.
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 33.2 miles from Saint Cloud, MN, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.1 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 42m 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 Waconia, 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 66.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 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 22.1 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.6 — 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
5
28.1 mi into trip|~35m in|MN 25 / State Highway 25
Turn right onto MN 25 / State Highway 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
37.2 mi into trip|~49m in|MN 25; CR 35 / Central Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35 / Central Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
38.6 mi into trip|~53m in|MN 25 / State Highway 25
Enter roundabout onto MN 25 / State Highway 25
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.87 one way
$19.73 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$10.63
$21.26
premium
$4.53
$11.83
$23.66
diesel
$5.61
$14.64
$29.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.80
$2.65
EV Truck/SUV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night
in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waconia, MN
Late night
in Waconia on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Montrose, MN
33 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
9 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 35m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 70% of your travel time will be spent on faster-paced roads. The drive begins with a 22.1-mile stretch on I-94, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. As you transition from the interstate onto State Highway 25 and County Road 10, the character of the road shifts from high-speed transit to more localized travel. You will find that this mix keeps the drive feeling efficient while moving you steadily toward your destination. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that prioritizes directness over winding scenic detours.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 25. 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 66.3 miles you will encounter 24 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 28.1 miles (MN 25 / State Highway 25): 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
•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 35m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Waconia, 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 28.1 miles (MN 25 / State Highway 25): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waconia, MN before heading back.
