Woodbury, MN to Blue Earth, MN is 274.4 miles and takes about 5h 20m via I 35W and I 35, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway trip that's ideal for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a predictable and efficient way to cover the distance.
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
137.2 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
116.5 mi
2h 10m
I 35
86.9 mi
1h 33m
I 90
39.2 mi
42m
State Highway 73
23.7 mi
40m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
Arrowhead Lane
0.7 mi
1m
US Highway 169
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 116.5 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on CR 127
0.2 mi·33 sec·Gisler Road
2
Turn left onto MN 210
3.6 mi·4 min·MN 210
3
Turn right onto MN 73
6.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 73
4
Continue on MN 73
16 mi·26 min·State Highway 73
5
Continue on MN 27; MN 73
0.5 mi·1 min·Folz Boulevard
6
Turn right onto MN 73; CR 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Arrowhead Lane
7
Continue on MN 73; CR 61
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
8
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
136 ft·8 sec·State Highway 73
9
Continue on State Highway 73
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
11
Merge onto I 35
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
116 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Sioux FallsUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 90
39 mi·42 min·I 90
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 169: Blue Earth
16
Turn left onto US 169
0.6 mi·46 sec·US Highway 169
17
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft·1 sec·Fairgrounds Road
18
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Fairgrounds Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
20
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft·8 sec·East 7th Street
21
Turn right
53 ft·6 sec
22
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Woodbury in the morning to make the most of the daylight for your 5-hour drive to Blue Earth. With a total duration under 6 hours and a fuel cost around $41, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll want to fuel up before you leave or early in the drive, as the longest stretch without a break from the main interstate is over 116 miles. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs and grab a snack; you'll have plenty of flexibility to choose a convenient location along I 35.
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 137.2 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.5 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 60 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.2 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Woodbury, 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 Woodbury, MN
This is one driving day of about 274.4 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Woodbury, 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 35W for about 116.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.9 and 232.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
27.9 mi into trip|~46m in|State Highway 73
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
28.7 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
28.9 mi into trip|~48m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
6
232.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Sioux Falls
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.84 one way
$81.67 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$44.00
$88.00
premium
$4.53
$48.96
$97.92
diesel
$5.61
$60.58
$121.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.3
1
$28.81
$13.17
Efficient EV
68.6
0
$24.01
$10.98
EV Truck/SUV
109.8
1
$38.42
$17.56
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Earth, MN
Late night
in Blue Earth on Tuesday
Local time
4:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
6 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
5h 20m 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?
You'll be on highways for 99% of this 274.4-mile drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 116.5 miles on I 35W. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through populated areas and then transition to more open cruising. The profile is mostly highway, so plan for consistent speeds and fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops off the main path until you get closer to your destination.
99% 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: 116.5 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 27.9 miles in near State Highway 73.
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 274.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 28.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Woodbury, MN to Blue Earth, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis along the way.
Minneapolis
28.7 mi in|~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 274.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.5 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 28.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Blue Earth, MN before the return drive.
