How far is Elk River, MN from Saint Cloud, MN?

The driving distance from Elk River, MN to Saint Cloud, MN is about 36.8 miles (59.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.9 miles (54.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
36.81 mi
00h 41m
Flight
33.89 mi
54.54 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elk River.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.89 mi
Kilometers
54.54 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.81 mi
Kilometers
59.24 km
Drive Time
00h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Cloud
Wed, Apr 22, 6:42 PM CDT
Return by in Elk River
Wed, Apr 22, 7:23 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk River
2026-04-22T18:00
Arrive Saint Cloud
Wed, Apr 22, 6:42 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:41 AM to 7:41 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Elk River
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Becker
MN

City in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Elk River
18.3 mi
00h 20m
To Saint Cloud
18.5 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elk River and Saint Cloud.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk River and Saint Cloud.

  1. 1

    Start on Jackson Avenue Northwest

    7 m · 3 sec · Jackson Avenue Northwest

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Voyageur Highway

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Voyageur Highway

  3. 3

    Continue on Jefferson Boulevard

    26.6 mi · 33 min · Jefferson Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Saint Germain Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · East Saint Germain Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Veterans Bridge

    809 ft · 23 sec · Veterans Bridge

  6. 6

    Continue on 1st Street North

    1165 ft · 29 sec · 1st Street North

  7. 7

    Continue on 2nd Street North

    120 m · 14 sec · 2nd Street North

  8. 8

    Turn left onto 8th Avenue North

    77 m · 16 sec · 8th Avenue North

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Courthouse Square

    2 m · 1 sec · Courthouse Square

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Courthouse Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elk River and Saint Cloud.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
10 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jefferson Boulevard
26.6 mi · 72%
Voyageur Highway
8.8 mi · 24%
East Saint Germain Street
0.76 mi · 2%
1st Street North
0.22 mi · 1%
Veterans Bridge
0.15 mi
2nd Street North
0.07 mi
Longest Stretch

Jefferson Boulevard

Continue on Jefferson Boulevard

26.6 mi · 00h 33m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 41m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
33.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Becker
00h 20m from Elk River
Leave By
7:08 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elk River and Sunny near Saint Cloud.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elk River to Saint Cloud?

The road trip is about 36.8 miles (59.2 km) and usually takes 00h 41m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Becker is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.3 miles from Elk River and 18.5 miles from Saint Cloud.

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

The direct path is about 33.9 miles (54.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.64 one way or $9.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elk River and Sunny near Saint Cloud.

Stop Ideas Near Becker

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Becker, 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 Becker.

RAIL

St. Cloud

29 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

72 mi away
Midway Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk River and Saint Cloud. Straight-line distance: 33.89 mi (54.54 km).

Elk River

#1 Elk River

City in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States

Population25,601
Coordinates45.3038500, -93.5671800
Altitude273
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Saint Cloud

City in Minnesota

Population68,510
Coordinates45.5608000, -94.1624900
Altitude314
CountryUnited States
Start: Jackson Avenue Northwest (-93.567209, 45.303853)
End: Courthouse Square (-94.162654, 45.560987)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.3 gal
4.92 L · about $4.64
Round trip
$9.28
2.6 gal · 9.84 L
Estimated CO2
11.6 kg one way
Round trip: 23.1 kg / 51 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $4.64 $9.28
Mid-grade $3.92 $5.10 $10.19
Premium $4.39 $5.71 $11.42
Diesel $4.86 $6.32 $12.65

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk River and Saint Cloud. The current time is 18:00:42.

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.