Origin
Woodbury, MN
Night in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodbury, MN to Brainerd, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
70.2 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbury, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Brainerd, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Woodbury, MN to Brainerd, MN is 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 28m via MN 210, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, transitioning from the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways but with a significant portion on surface roads as you approach Brainerd. Expect a fairly quick transit, making it ideal for a day trip without feeling rushed. You'll spend less than $15 on gas for this leg.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 210 | 32.2 mi | 40m |
| Voyageur Highway | 30.2 mi | 36m |
| 2nd Street Northeast | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Northeast Washington Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Oak Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Archibald Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 210
— 32.2 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Brainerd, MN.
1
Start on CR 127
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Gisler Road
2
Turn right onto MN 210
32 mi
·
40 min
·
MN 210
3
Turn left onto US 169; MN 210
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Voyageur Highway
4
Continue on US 169; MN 210
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
2nd Street Northeast
5
Continue on MN 210
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Voyageur Highway
6
Continue on MN 6; MN 210
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Front Street
7
Turn right onto MN 6; MN 210
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
Archibald Road
8
Continue on MN 6; MN 210
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Voyageur Highway
9
Enter roundabout onto MN 6; MN 210
109 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
10
Continue on MN 6; MN 210
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
11
Turn left onto MN 210
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on MN 210
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
Oak Street
13
Continue on MN 210
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
4th Street
14
Continue on MN 210
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Voyageur Highway
15
Continue on MN 210
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Washington Street
16
Continue on MN 210
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
17
Turn left onto MN 371 Business
55 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 6th Street
18
Arrive at destination
MN 371 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.1 miles from Woodbury, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 55 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 210
Turn right onto MN 210
Navigation decision point
3
32.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 169; MN 210 / Voyageur Highway
Turn left onto US 169; MN 210 / Voyageur Highway
Navigation decision point
4
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
MN 6; MN 210 / Archibald Road
Turn right onto MN 6; MN 210 / Archibald Road
Navigation decision point
5
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
MN 6; MN 210 / East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto MN 6; MN 210 / East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
MN 210 / 3rd Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto MN 210 / 3rd Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.81 one way
$23.62 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $12.72 | $25.44 |
| premium | $5.04 | $13.92 | $27.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.58 | $31.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.37 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
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.
Destination
Brainerd, MN
Night in Brainerd on Friday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 46% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good chunk of time on high-speed roads before transitioning to surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on MN 210 covers 32.2 miles, offering a period of consistent cruising. As you move from highway to surface roads, you'll notice a change in speed and traffic density. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you get closer to Brainerd.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.2 mi on MN 210.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MN 210.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Woodbury, MN to Brainerd, MN is easy. At 1h 28m with 46% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 169; MN 210 / Voyageur Highway): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (MN 6; MN 210 / Archibald Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft
1,204 ft
Total Climb
99 ft
Total Descent
206 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
114 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Woodbury, MN
Full guide →Founded 1967
Woodbury is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Arriving in Brainerd, MN
Full guide →Founded 1870
Brainerd is a city in Northwestern Minnesota.
Top landmarks
- • Brainerd Water Tower — water tower in Brainerd, United States of America
- • Crow Wing County Courthouse and Jail — courthouse in Brainerd, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 70.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.2 miles on MN 210. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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.
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: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 169; MN 210 / Voyageur Highway): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (MN 6; MN 210 / Archibald Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brainerd, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Woodbury, MN or browse trips ending in Brainerd, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.