Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Waverly, MN
Tom Fisk
Saint Cloud, MN to Waverly, MN is 50.2 miles and takes about 1h 9m via I 94 and State Highway 25, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota's Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a quick connection between two points, ideal for a day trip or as part of a larger regional exploration. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for an efficient commute.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 22.1 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 25 | 14.9 mi | 21m |
| Roosevelt Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| US 12 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Ahern Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lake Boulevard South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Cloud, MN and Waverly, MN.
Start on Courthouse Square
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Turn right onto West Saint Germain Street
Turn left onto Washington Memorial Drive
Turn left onto CR 75
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn right onto MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25; CR 35
Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35
Continue on MN 25; CR 35
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Enter roundabout onto MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25
At end of road, turn right onto US 12; MN 25
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
Continue on US 12; MN 25
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Turn right onto CR 9
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.1 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.
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.
Turn right onto 1st Street North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 9th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MN 25 / State Highway 25
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto MN 25; CR 35 / Central Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto MN 25 / State Highway 25
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$7.47 one way
$14.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.05 | $16.10 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.96 | $17.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.08 | $22.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Saint Cloud on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
28°F
Slight Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Waverly on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 80% of the drive on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 22.1 miles on I 94 before transitioning to State Highway 25. Expect typical interstate cruising with moderate exit density. The latter part of the drive will shift to more rural highway driving as you approach Waverly.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.2 miles you will encounter 15 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.
Founded 1856
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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