Winthrop to Woodbury is 193.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 7 minutes via State Highway 15, MN 23, and MN 27, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's well-suited for a single-day journey. You'll primarily be on state highways, so expect a driving experience that's efficient but not necessarily interstate-level speed. Consider this route if you're looking for a practical way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
96.9 miles from Winthrop, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 15
70.7 mi
1h 31m
MN 23
52.5 mi
1h 2m
MN 27
33.6 mi
42m
State Highway 210
15.4 mi
18m
3rd Street Southeast
14.6 mi
18m
Main Street South
1.7 mi
4m
Tamarack Boulevard West
1.5 mi
1m
Division Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 15
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winthrop, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on MN 19
0.5 mi·1 min·4th Street West
2
Turn right onto MN 15
22 mi·28 min·State Highway 15
3
Enter roundabout onto MN 15
117 ft·4 sec·State Highway 15
4
Continue on MN 15
1.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on MN 15
1.7 mi·4 min·Main Street South
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto MN 15
106 ft·1 sec·Main Street North
7
Continue on MN 15
0.3 mi·32 sec·Main Street North
8
Continue on MN 15
47 mi·1 hr·State Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto MN 23
1.1 mi·2 min·Division Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 7-minute duration, starting your trip in Winthrop earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop for this 193.8-mile drive, you have flexibility in pacing. Plan your fuel stops strategically, especially given the $29 estimated fuel cost, and be aware that the longest stretch without a break is over 70 miles. A good tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is topped off before departing Winthrop, as the initial 70.7-mile segment on State Highway 15 is quite substantial.
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 96.9 miles from Winthrop, MN, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 43 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.9 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
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 Winthrop, 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 Winthrop, MN
This is one driving day of about 193.8 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Winthrop, 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 State Highway 15 for about 70.7 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 22.7 and 123.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
22.7 mi into trip|~29m in|MN 15 / State Highway 15
Enter roundabout onto MN 15 / State Highway 15
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
25.9 mi into trip|~36m in|MN 15 / Main Street North
Enter roundabout onto MN 15 / Main Street North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|MN 23 / Division Street
Turn right onto MN 23 / Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
90.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
123.3 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|MN 23; MN 65
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.84 one way
$57.68 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$31.08
$62.15
premium
$4.53
$34.58
$69.16
diesel
$5.61
$42.79
$85.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.1
0
$20.35
$9.30
Efficient EV
48.5
0
$16.96
$7.75
EV Truck/SUV
77.5
0
$27.13
$12.40
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Winthrop, MN
Night
in Winthrop on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Night
in Woodbury on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Sunny
NW 15 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued April 17 at 5:13PM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 8:21AM CDT until April 22 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
10 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
4h 7m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.7 miles on State Highway 15, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While it’s primarily highway driving, the use of State Highways 15, 23, and 27 means you might encounter slightly more varied conditions than a major interstate. Expect a consistent, flowing drive for the most part, suitable for maintaining a good average speed for the majority of the 4-hour trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on State Highway 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 15 and MN 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 22.7 miles in near MN 15 / State Highway 15.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m 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 22.7 miles (MN 15 / State Highway 15): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.9 miles (MN 15 / Main Street North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.2 miles (MN 23 / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 193.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on State Highway 15. 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.
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 22.7 miles (MN 15 / State Highway 15): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.9 miles (MN 15 / Main Street North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.2 miles (MN 23 / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Woodbury, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
