Saint Cloud (Minnesota)

Saint Cloud is a city in Central Minnesota with a population of 66,169. 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). A "college town" as well, 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.

Understand

Get in

By car

About an hour northwest of Minneapolis - Saint Paul via Interstate 94.

By train
  • 🌍 Amtrak, 555 E St Germain St. Station hours 4AM-6AM daily and 11:30PM-1:15AM nightly. Amtrak's Empire Builder service, which runs between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, stops in Saint Cloud. 

By bus

🌍 Metro Bus Transit Center, 510 1st St S, is the main hub for local and inter-city bus services. Greyhound doesn't serve Saint Cloud but they offer through-ticketing with Jefferson Lines.

  • Jefferson Lines. Jefferson Lines links Saint Cloud with Minneapolis, Fargo, Grand Forks, and various cities in Northern Minnesota. Buses serve the Metro Bus Transit Center plus an additional stop at St. Cloud State University, at the Atwood Center at 720 4th Ave S.
  • Northstar Link. Bus connects St. Cloud with the Northstar commuter rail station in Big Lake. Buses serve the Metro Bus Transit Center plus an additional stop at St. Cloud State University, outside the Miller Center at 7th St S and 4th Ave S.

By plane

Get around

St. Cloud is laid out with its primary traffic artery (Division Street) running roughly E-W. Crossing arteries (roughly N-S) are called "Avenues," and are numbered as either "South" or "North" of Division Street. For example, a location "nmm 6th Ave S" would be expected to be located in the nth block south of Division street, on a N-S crossing street roughly six streets from the Mississippi River. Arteries roughly parallel to Division are called "Streets," and designated either "North" or "South." For example, a location "nmm 10th Street S" would be expected to be located on the n-hundred block west of the river, on an E-W street roughly 10 block-lengths south of Division. The word "roughly" is definitely applicable in the above. A similar scheme applies east of the river, but the directional system is more complex.

See

Do
  • Parkwood 17 1533 Frontage Road North, Waite Park, +1 320 253-4328, a 17 screen movie theater
  • St. Cloud State Husky Hockey - NCAA Division I hockey at the National Hockey and Event Center in St. Cloud. SCSU plays in the always rugged WCHA. Call 1-877-SCSUTIX for information.

Events
  • Granite City Days. Formerly the Wheels, Wings, and Water Festival, held every summer. 
  • KVSC Trivia Weekend. A 50-hour trivia marathon created by St. Cloud State University's campus radio station to alleviate Minnesota’s infamous mid-winter cabin fever. KVSC Trivia Weekend debuted in 1980 and has run every year since. It costs $50 to enter and takes place in early February. 
  • St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra

Buy

Eat

Restaurants: Many, both typical and upscale.

Drink
  • DB Searles Bar and Restaurant, 18 5th Ave South, ☎ +1 320 253-0655. A unique bar and restaurant in historic downtown has four floors of great entertainment and fine dining. Street level you will find a cozy pub with high tin ceilings, original woodwork, tons of charm. The Stadium Sports Bar on 2nd floor hosts live bands several nights a week. The third and fourth level hosts a newly renovated restaurant for fine dinners six nights a week and lunch on Saturday. 
  • The Red Carpet, 11 5th Ave South. 

Sleep

Stay safe

Saint Cloud is an overall safe city. It is a college town, so there are always many college-aged people walking around the city, even at night. The south side around St. Cloud State is generally safe to walk around day or night, but traveling in groups at night is recommended. The south side, past the National Hockey Center, has had trouble with car thefts, so take caution. The neighborhoods around campus are safe too, but will get rowdy Thursday through Saturday nights while school is in session with parties. Generally, these neighborhoods violate noise restrictions during these times rather than taking part in other crime. Police patrols have recently been increased. Downtown is safe during the day, and even at night, but caution is necessary after dark as the downtown area fills with bar-goers. If you use common sense and travel in groups, you'll have no problems in Saint Cloud.

Go next
  • Pine City, east on Highway 23 (Division Street in St. Cloud), a little over an hour. Tip: At Mora, cut across on 1/11. A very cool small town!
Routes through Saint Cloud

Fargo ← Staples ←  W  E  → St. Paul → Milwaukee
Fargo ← Sauk Centre ←  W  E  → Monticello → Minneapolis
Fargo ← Little Falls ←  W  E  → Elk River → St. Paul
END ←  N  S  → New Ulm → Fairmont
Pipestone ← Cold Spring ←  W  E  → Foley → Duluth
END ←  W  E  → Princeton → Stillwater


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