This 294.1-mile journey from Pipestone, MN to Woodbury, MN is designed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 3 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily using 8th Avenue Northeast, Highway 23, and 10th Avenue South, with a highway share of 0%, indicating a more local and potentially turn-heavy experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, this drive through the heart of Minnesota's Midwest region is best suited for those who prefer a less highway-intensive route. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, making it a manageable, albeit potentially winding, day trip.
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
146.1 miles from Pipestone, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 23
146.2 mi
2h 58m
State Highway 23
72.6 mi
1h 31m
MN 27
33.6 mi
42m
State Highway 210
15.4 mi
18m
3rd Street Southeast
14.6 mi
18m
US 212
3.2 mi
4m
Division Street
2.4 mi
5m
Tamarack Boulevard West
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 146.2 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pipestone, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on Main Street East
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street East
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 75; MN 23
0.2 mi·11 sec·8th Avenue Northeast
3
Turn right onto MN 23
73 mi·1 hr 31 min·State Highway 23
4
Turn right onto US 212; MN 23
3.2 mi·4 min·US 212; MN 23
5
Turn left onto MN 23
94 mi·1 hr 56 min·MN 23
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
0.3 mi·34 sec·10th Avenue South
7
Turn right onto CR 75
2.3 mi·4 min·Division Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on MN 23
0.9 mi·2 min·1st Street
9
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi·23 sec·Division Street
10
Continue on MN 23
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Street South
11
Continue on MN 23
0.2 mi·21 sec·Granite City Crossing
12
Continue on MN 23
15 mi·18 min·3rd Street Southeast
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
114 ft·1 sec·MN 23
14
Continue on MN 23
33 mi·37 min·MN 23
15
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi·24 min·MN 23; MN 65
16
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi·42 min·MN 27; MN 65
17
Turn right onto MN 210
7.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 210
18
Continue on MN 210
1.5 mi·1 min·Tamarack Boulevard West
19
Continue on MN 210
7.6 mi·8 min·State Highway 210
20
Turn left onto CR 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gisler Road
21
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration and the "turn-heavy local drive" profile, consider an early morning departure from Pipestone to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic in the Woodbury area. With only one stop recommended, make it a substantial one to refuel and stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost is $42, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Pipestone. Pay close attention to signage for Highway 23 and the named avenues, as the lack of highway travel means you'll be navigating more local intersections and potential speed limit changes throughout the 294.1-mile trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.1 miles from Pipestone, MN, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.2 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 64 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.1 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 1m
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 Pipestone, 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 Pipestone, MN
This is one driving day of about 292.2 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Pipestone, 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 146.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 189 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|MN 23
Turn left onto MN 23
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
170.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|10th Avenue South
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|CR 75 / Division Street
Turn right onto CR 75 / Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
189 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.89 one way
$87.78 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$47.38
$94.77
premium
$4.60
$52.93
$105.86
diesel
$4.80
$55.17
$110.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.7
1
$30.68
$14.03
Efficient EV
73.1
0
$25.57
$11.69
EV Truck/SUV
116.9
1
$40.91
$18.70
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Pipestone, MN
Evening
in Pipestone on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 5:12PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Evening
in Woodbury on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
NW 5 to 10 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 5:12PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
5 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
For over 3,000 years, Indigenous people have quarried the red stone at this site to make pipes used in prayer and ceremony - a tradition that continues to this day and makes this site sacred to many p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for this 294.1-mile route. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter long stretches of high-speed interstate travel. Instead, your journey will be characterized by navigating through local roads, including segments of 8th Avenue Northeast, Highway 23, and 10th Avenue South. The absence of a 'longest stretch' figure suggests a continuous series of turns and road changes, requiring your attention throughout the 5-hour duration. This profile means you'll be actively engaged with the road as you make your way across Minnesota.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.2 mi on MN 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and State Highway 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 6m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 76.4 miles (MN 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 170.2 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,734 ft1,028 ft
Total Climb
513 ft
Total Descent
930 ft
Highest Point
1,734 ft
Elevation Range
706 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Pipestone is a city in southwestern Minnesota. It is the seat of Pipestone County and has a population of 4554.
Pipestone is home to the famous Indian quarry at Pipestone National Monument. Many North American Indian tribes - including Ojibwa, Dakota, Oto, Pawnee, Sac Fox, and Lakota - came to quarry the sacred redstone known as pipestone or catlinite. The soft red pipestone is found under layers of the very hard Sioux quartzite. The pipestone became a valued trade item and was responsible for Pipestone becoming a Crossroads of the Indian World. The Song of Hiawatha Pageant has played at the pipestone quarry lake for nearly 60 years.
The longest stretch is about 146.2 miles on MN 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Woodbury, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 75; MN 23 / 8th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 76.4 miles (MN 23): Lane positioning matters here; at 170.2 miles (10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Pipestone National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 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.
