Two Harbors, MN to Woodbury, MN is 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m via I 35 and Highway 61, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest's northern reaches down towards the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance without significant detours. Plan for a quick travel day, likely arriving with plenty of time to settle in.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.2 miles from Two Harbors, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
23.9 mi
28m
Highway 61
23.5 mi
32m
MN 210
23.3 mi
28m
7th Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Waterfront Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Gisler Road
0.2 mi
<1m
4th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 23.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Two Harbors, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
71 ft·5 sec·4th Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 20
0.2 mi·36 sec·Waterfront Drive
3
Turn left onto MN 61
0.9 mi·2 min·7th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on MN 61
24 mi·32 min·Highway 61
5
Turn left onto I 35
4.0 mi·5 min·I 35
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
20 mi·23 min·I 35
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 235Toward MN 210: Carlton, Cromwell
8
Turn right onto MN 210
23 mi·28 min·MN 210
9
Turn right onto CR 127
0.2 mi·27 sec·Gisler Road
10
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 1h 33m drive, you have a lot of flexibility for departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Woodbury by midday, allowing you to maximize your afternoon. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you can easily find gas stations along I 35 or Highway 61 if needed. There are no designated stops in the data, so feel free to make your own as needed, but keep in mind the longest stretch is under 24 miles, so you won't be out of range for long. Pay attention to exits as you get closer to the Twin Cities metro area, as traffic can increase.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.2 miles from Two Harbors, MN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.9 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
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 Two Harbors, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Two Harbors, MN
This is one driving day of about 72.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Two Harbors, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 23.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 20 / Waterfront Drive
Turn right onto CR 20 / Waterfront Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MN 61 / 7th Avenue
Turn left onto MN 61 / 7th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
28.6 mi into trip|~40m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
48.6 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward MN 210: Carlton, Cromwell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 235
Toward MN 210: Carlton, Cromwell
4
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|CR 127 / Gisler Road
Turn right onto CR 127 / Gisler Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.76 one way
$21.52 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$11.59
$23.19
premium
$4.53
$12.90
$25.80
diesel
$5.61
$15.96
$31.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.33
$2.89
EV Truck/SUV
28.9
0
$10.12
$4.63
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Two Harbors, MN
Morning
in Two Harbors on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Morning
in Woodbury on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
16 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
1h 33m 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 route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 23.9 miles on I 35, indicating a substantial period of high-speed cruising. Expect a very limited amount of time on surface roads as you approach your destination, with most of the mileage dedicated to efficient travel. The high highway percentage means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges typical of interstate driving for the majority of this trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Highway 61. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 20 / Waterfront Drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Two Harbors, MN to Woodbury, MN is easy. At 1h 33m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 20 / Waterfront Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MN 61 / 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Two Harbors, MN to Woodbury, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cromwell along the way.
Cromwell
48.6 mi in|~1h 3m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 72.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 23.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 20 / Waterfront Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MN 61 / 7th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Woodbury, MN before heading back.
