How far is Cold Spring, MN from Sauk Centre, MN?

The driving distance from Cold Spring, MN to Sauk Centre, MN is about 48.6 miles (78.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
48.62 mi
00h 46m
Flight
31.93 mi
51.39 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cold Spring.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.93 mi
Kilometers
51.39 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
48.62 mi
Kilometers
78.24 km
Drive Time
00h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sauk Centre
Sun, Apr 19, 4:46 AM CDT
Return by in Cold Spring
Sun, Apr 19, 5:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cold Spring
2026-04-19T03:59
Arrive Sauk Centre
Sun, Apr 19, 4:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cold Spring
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Avon
MN

City in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Cold Spring
24.1 mi
00h 23m
To Sauk Centre
24.5 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
47°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cold Spring and Sauk Centre.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cold Spring and Sauk Centre.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    2868 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    9.3 mi · 11 min

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight left toward MN 23

    2097 ft · 51 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto I-94 W

    36.6 mi · 39 min · I-94 W

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 71, MN 28: Glenwood, Sauk Centre

    1931 ft · 51 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Main Street South

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street South

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Sinclair Lewis Avenue

    45 m · 4 sec · Sinclair Lewis Avenue

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sinclair Lewis Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cold Spring and Sauk Centre.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
8 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-94 W
36.6 mi · 75%
Main Street South
1.07 mi · 2%
Main Street
0.54 mi · 1%
MN 23
0.4 mi · 1%
US 71
0.37 mi · 1%
Sinclair Lewis Avenue
0.03 mi
Longest Stretch

I-94 W

Merge slight left onto I-94 W

36.6 mi · 00h 39m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.7 mi
31.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Avon
00h 23m from Cold Spring
Leave By
4:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cold Spring and Sunny near Sauk Centre.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cold Spring to Sauk Centre?

The road trip is about 48.6 miles (78.2 km) and usually takes 00h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Avon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.1 miles from Cold Spring and 24.5 miles from Sauk Centre.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.10 one way or $12.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cold Spring and Sunny near Sauk Centre.

Stop Ideas Near Avon

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Avon, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Avon.

RAIL

St. Cloud

24 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Staples

87 mi away
First & Fourth Aves

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cold Spring and Sauk Centre. Straight-line distance: 31.93 mi (51.39 km).

Cold Spring

#1 Cold Spring

City in Minnesota, United States

Population4,350
Coordinates45.4558000, -94.4288800
Altitude335
CountryUnited States
Sauk Centre

#2 Sauk Centre

City in Stearns County, Minnesota, USA

Population1,172
Coordinates45.7374700, -94.9525200
Altitude381
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-94.42888, 45.455829)
End: Sinclair Lewis Avenue (-94.952508, 45.737137)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 78 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.71 gal
6.49 L · about $6.10
Round trip
$12.21
3.42 gal · 12.98 L
Estimated CO2
15.2 kg one way
Round trip: 30.4 kg / 67 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $6.10 $12.21
Mid-grade $3.92 $6.70 $13.41
Premium $4.39 $7.51 $15.02
Diesel $4.86 $8.32 $16.63

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Cold Spring and Sauk Centre. The current time is 03:59:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.