Origin
Starbuck, MN
Late night in Starbuck on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Starbuck, MN to Saint Cloud, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
74 mi
119 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Starbuck, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Cloud, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Starbuck to Saint Cloud is 74 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via East 7th Street and I-94, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. You'll find a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving on this relatively short drive. It's a straightforward connection, good for a quick trip between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37 miles from Starbuck, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 7th Street | 32 mi | 47m |
| I 94 | 30.5 mi | 32m |
| County Road 75 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| 3rd Street Northeast | 2 mi | 3m |
| Division Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 44th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East 7th Street
— 32 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Starbuck, MN and Saint Cloud, MN.
1
Start on MN 29
32 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto MN 28; MN 29
32 mi
·
47 min
·
East 7th Street
3
Turn left onto US 71; MN 28
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Main Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
5
Merge onto I 94
31 mi
·
32 min
·
I 94
6
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward CR 75: Saint Cloud
7
Continue on CR 75
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road 75
8
Continue on CR 75
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
9
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
44th Avenue North
10
Turn right onto 3rd Street Northeast
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Street Northeast
11
Turn right onto 16th Avenue North
407 ft
·
16 sec
·
16th Avenue North
12
Turn left onto 2nd Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street North
13
Turn right onto 8th Avenue North
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
8th Avenue North
14
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Courthouse Square
15
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 40 minute duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Saint Cloud. With only 74 miles, you have flexibility regarding stops; however, the longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 32 miles on East 7th Street, so plan a brief break around that point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $12, and it's always wise to fill up before starting if your tank is low.
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 37 miles from Starbuck, MN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 53m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Cloud, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Starbuck, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Starbuck, MN
This is one driving day of about 74 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Starbuck, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East 7th Street for about 32 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Starbuck, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 71 — 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
|
MN 28; MN 29 / East 7th Street
Turn right onto MN 28; MN 29 / East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
32 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South
Turn left onto US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South
Navigation decision point
4
32.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
Navigation decision point
Toward I 94 East: St. Cloud
4
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward CR 75: Saint Cloud
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CR 75: Saint Cloud
4
71 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
44th Avenue North
Turn left onto 44th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.08 one way
$24.16 round trip
$4.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $13.00 | $26.00 |
| premium | $4.95 | $14.43 | $28.86 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $17.38 | $34.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Saint Cloud, MN
Late night in Saint Cloud on Saturday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Albany, MN
37 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
1 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 40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 41% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion on I-94. Before that, expect 32 miles on East 7th Street, which will feel more like local cruising. The transition from surface roads to the interstate is a noticeable shift in driving pace. You'll encounter more frequent exits and merges as you approach Saint Cloud.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32 mi on East 7th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MN 28; MN 29 / East 7th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MN 28; MN 29 / East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32 miles (US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Starbuck, MN to Saint Cloud, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 75: Saint Cloud along the way.
Cr 75: Saint Cloud
63 mi in
|
~1h 21m
About the Cities
Starting in Starbuck, MN
Full guide →Arriving in Saint Cloud, MN
Full guide →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
- • 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 74 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on East 7th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (MN 28; MN 29 / East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32 miles (US 71; MN 28 / Main Street South): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Cloud, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
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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