Lake Elmo to Woodbury is 140.6 miles and takes about 2h 52m via I 35 and State Highway 73, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, making it a straightforward journey. The drive is primarily highway-focused, suggesting a quicker pace rather than a leisurely exploration. With a recommended one-day duration, you can easily complete this route without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
70.3 miles from Lake Elmo, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
82.2 mi
1h 28m
State Highway 73
22.9 mi
38m
I 35E
17.5 mi
18m
I 694
6.8 mi
8m
1st Street
3.6 mi
4m
Stillwater Boulevard North
2.2 mi
3m
34th Street North
1.7 mi
2m
MN 73
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 82.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Elmo, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on CH 17
0.4 mi·1 min·Lake Elmo Avenue North
2
At end of road, turn left onto CH 14; CH 17
2.2 mi·3 min·Stillwater Boulevard North
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 14
146 ft·3 sec·34th Street North
4
Continue on CH 14
1.7 mi·2 min·34th Street North
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 694 NorthUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 694
6.8 mi·8 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 47Toward I 35E North: DuluthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35E
18 mi·18 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 35
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward MN 73: Moose Lake
11
Turn left onto MN 73
0.9 mi·1 min·MN 73
12
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
132 ft·8 sec·State Highway 73
13
Continue on State Highway 73
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
14
Continue on MN 73; CR 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Arrowhead Lane
15
Turn left onto MN 27; MN 73
0.5 mi·1 min·Folz Boulevard
16
Continue on MN 27; MN 73
22 mi·37 min·State Highway 73
17
Turn left onto MN 210
3.6 mi·4 min·1st Street
18
Turn right onto CR 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gisler Road
19
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 52m duration and 140.6 miles, this is a perfect one-day trip, so you can depart any time that suits you. Aim to leave in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. You'll encounter one designated stop on the route, but with the longest stretch being 82.2 miles, plan for a brief break if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off to avoid unexpected stops.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Lake Elmo, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.2 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 19m 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 12m
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 Lake Elmo, 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 Lake Elmo, MN
This is one driving day of about 140.6 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Lake Elmo, 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 I 35 for about 82.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 11.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|CH 14; CH 17 / Stillwater Boulevard North
At end of road, turn left onto CH 14; CH 17 / Stillwater Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
7
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 694 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 694 North
5
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in|I 694
Merge onto I 694
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Duluth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 47
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
5
11.8 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.85 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$22.55
$45.09
premium
$4.53
$25.09
$50.17
diesel
$5.61
$31.04
$62.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.30
$5.62
EV Truck/SUV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Elmo, MN
Late night
in Lake Elmo on Sunday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Sunday
Local time
4:59 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
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
2h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 is a highway-focused drive with a 93% share of its mileage on major roads like I 35 and State Highway 73. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted 82.2 miles on I 35. While predominantly interstate, the route utilizes a mix of highways that should offer a fairly direct and predictable driving experience. The character of the drive is largely about covering ground efficiently on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.2 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 73. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CH 14; CH 17 / Stillwater Boulevard North.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CH 14; CH 17 / Stillwater Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 140.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.2 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.4 miles (CH 14; CH 17 / Stillwater Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 694): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Woodbury, MN before heading back.
