Embark on a 238.8-mile journey from Dawson, MN, to Woodbury, MN, a drive estimated to take around 4 hours and 9 minutes. This trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. With a projected fuel cost of $34, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route is characterized by a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be navigating through towns and along various local roads rather than open highways. Expect to make about one planned stop along the way to break up the drive. This route offers a straightforward way to travel between two points within Minnesota.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.5 miles from Dawson, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Dawson, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on CR 23
0.2 mi·32 sec·6th Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 212
16 mi·24 min·Oak Street
3
Turn left onto US 59; MN 29
0.2 mi·11 sec·US 59; MN 29
4
Continue on MN 7; MN 29
18 mi·24 min·MN 7; MN 29
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto MN 23
62 mi·1 hr 16 min·1st Avenue Southwest
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on MN 23
0.1 mi·12 sec·4th Street West
7
Continue on MN 23
18 mi·22 min·4th Street Southeast
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·34 sec·10th Avenue South
9
Turn right onto CR 75
2.3 mi·4 min·Division Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MN 23
0.9 mi·2 min·1st Street
11
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi·23 sec·Division Street
12
Continue on MN 23
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Street South
13
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi·21 sec·Granite City Crossing
14
Continue on MN 23
15 mi·18 min·3rd Street Southeast
15
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
114 ft·1 sec·MN 23
16
Continue on MN 23
33 mi·37 min·MN 23
17
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi·24 min·MN 23; MN 65
18
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi·42 min·MN 27; MN 65
19
Turn right onto MN 210
7.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 210
20
Continue on MN 210
1.5 mi·1 min·Tamarack Boulevard West
21
Continue on MN 210
7.6 mi·8 min·State Highway 210
22
Turn left onto CR 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gisler Road
23
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving Dawson in the morning should get you to Woodbury with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a 0% highway share, plan for your fuel tank to be full before you depart. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a local drive with many turns, be sure to keep your navigation device handy and pay close attention to signage as you make your way through various towns. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 118.5 miles from Dawson, MN, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 52 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.5 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodbury, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dawson, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dawson, MN
This is one driving day of about 237 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Dawson, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 1st Avenue Southwest for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 133.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 212 / Oak Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 212 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
6
34.8 mi into trip|~49m in|MN 23 / 1st Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto MN 23 / 1st Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
115 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|10th Avenue South
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|CR 75 / Division Street
Turn right onto CR 75 / Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.27 one way
$70.54 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$38.00
$76.01
premium
$4.53
$42.29
$84.57
diesel
$5.61
$52.33
$104.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.88
$11.38
Efficient EV
59.3
0
$20.74
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.18
$15.17
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Dawson, MN
Evening
in Dawson on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
26°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Evening
in Woodbury on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
24°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This particular drive is defined by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a highway share of 0%. You won't encounter any long stretches of high-speed interstate travel. Instead, anticipate navigating through communities via Oak Street, 1st Avenue Southwest, and 4th Street West. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the nature of the route suggests frequent turns and changes in speed as you pass through different areas. This means staying attentive and keeping your focus on the road ahead will be key to a smooth journey.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on 1st Avenue Southwest.
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 around 0.2 miles in near US 212 / Oak Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 1m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 212 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.8 miles (MN 23 / 1st Avenue Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 237 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on 1st Avenue Southwest. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 212 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 34.8 miles (MN 23 / 1st Avenue Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 115 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Woodbury, MN before the return drive.
