Independence, MN to Woodbury, MN is 148.3 miles and takes about 3h 11m via MN 23, MN 27, and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With over 80% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct trip. This is a solid option if you're looking for a straightforward drive to get between these two points without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.2 miles from Independence, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 23
37.8 mi
45m
MN 27
33.6 mi
42m
US Highway 169
32.8 mi
37m
State Highway 210
15.4 mi
18m
Jansen Avenue Southeast
4.4 mi
10m
MN 101
4.3 mi
4m
Dogwood Street
3.4 mi
4m
Labeaux Avenue Northeast
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 37.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on Valley Road
0.2 mi·43 sec·Valley Road
2
Turn right onto US 12
0.7 mi·52 sec·Babcock Boulevard
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
0.1 mi·8 sec·Babcock Boulevard
4
Enter roundabout
214 ft·2 sec
5
Continue
0.2 mi·21 sec
6
At end of road, turn left onto CR 92
0.3 mi·26 sec·County Road 92
7
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·19 sec·this road
8
Continue on CR 92
3.4 mi·4 min·Dogwood Street
9
Turn left onto MN 55
1.1 mi·1 min·MN 55
10
Turn right onto CR 20
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
11
Continue on CR 20
4.4 mi·10 min·Jansen Avenue Southeast
12
Continue on CR 20
1.0 mi·2 min·River Road Northeast
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 19
195 ft·3 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
14
Continue on CR 19
0.2 mi·24 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
15
Enter roundabout onto CR 19
136 ft·2 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
16
Continue on CR 19
2.8 mi·3 min·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
17
Continue on CR 19
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street North
18
Turn right onto MN 241
0.3 mi·35 sec·Saint Michael Parkway East
19
Continue on MN 241
0.4 mi·40 sec·Central Avenue East
20
Continue on MN 241
2.7 mi·3 min·42nd Street Northeast
21
Enter roundabout onto MN 241
97 ft·2 sec·MN 241
22
Continue on MN 241
2.5 mi·3 min·MN 241
23
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Use the left lane.
24
Merge onto MN 101
4.3 mi·4 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 169
27 mi·30 min·US Highway 169
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
6.3 mi·7 min·US Highway 169
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
28
Turn right onto MN 23
18 mi·20 min·MN 23
29
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi·24 min·MN 23; MN 65
30
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi·42 min·MN 27; MN 65
31
Turn right onto MN 210
7.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 210
32
Continue on MN 210
1.5 mi·1 min·Tamarack Boulevard West
33
Continue on MN 210
7.6 mi·8 min·State Highway 210
34
Turn left onto CR 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gisler Road
35
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 11m estimated drive time, this trip is easily doable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility with any unscheduled stops. With a fuel cost estimate of $22, you should have a good idea of your expenses. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 37.8-mile stretch on MN 23, as this is the longest segment without a noted break in highway driving. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel if 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 74.2 miles from Independence, MN, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 33 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.2 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
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 Independence, 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 Independence, MN
This is one driving day of about 148.3 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Independence, 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 MN 23 for about 37.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 22 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 92 / County Road 92
At end of road, turn left onto CR 92 / County Road 92
Navigation decision point
5
12.4 mi into trip|~24m in|CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Enter roundabout onto CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12.6 mi into trip|~25m in|CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Enter roundabout onto CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
22 mi into trip|~38m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.07 one way
$44.14 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$23.78
$47.56
premium
$4.53
$26.46
$52.92
diesel
$5.61
$32.74
$65.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
EV Truck/SUV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Independence, MN
Late night
in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
WNW 5 to 15 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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
32 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
3h 11m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the 148.3 miles on major roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on MN 23, covering 37.8 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of the trip, punctuated by the occasional exit ramp.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on MN 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and MN 27. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 11m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (CR 92 / County Road 92): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on MN 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (CR 92 / County Road 92): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Woodbury, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
