Woodbury, MN to Columbia Heights, MN is 131 miles and takes about 2h 45m via State Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Given its relatively short duration and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the road, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.5 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 65
93.7 mi
1h 55m
MN 210
16.9 mi
20m
MN 65
16.5 mi
21m
University Avenue Northeast
2.7 mi
5m
Gisler Road
0.2 mi
<1m
I 694
0.1 mi
<1m
Central Avenue Northeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 65
— 93.7 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Columbia Heights, MN.
1
Start on CR 127
0.2 mi·29 sec·Gisler Road
2
Turn right onto MN 210
17 mi·20 min·MN 210
3
Turn left onto MN 65
94 mi·1 hr 55 min·State Highway 65
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 65
17 mi·21 min·MN 65
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on MN 65
300 ft·5 sec·Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 694 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 694
0.1 mi·10 sec·I 694
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 37Toward MN 47: University AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto MN 47
2.4 mi·4 min·University Avenue Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on MN 47
0.4 mi·45 sec·University Avenue Northeast
11
Arrive at destination
MN 47
Trip Plan
For this 2h 45m drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so plan accordingly. Given the majority of the route is highway, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 93.7-mile stretch on State Highway 65, to avoid needing an unplanned stop.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.5 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.7 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.5 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia Heights, 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 131 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 State Highway 65 for about 93.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 128.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.1 mi into trip|~21m in|MN 65 / State Highway 65
Turn left onto MN 65 / State Highway 65
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|MN 65
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 694 West
8
128 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward MN 47: University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward MN 47: University Avenue
4
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto MN 47 / University Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.51 one way
$43.01 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$23.00
$46.00
premium
$4.95
$25.52
$51.04
diesel
$5.35
$27.59
$55.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.3
0
$13.76
$6.29
Efficient EV
32.8
0
$11.46
$5.24
EV Truck/SUV
52.4
0
$18.34
$8.38
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Afternoon
in Woodbury on Wednesday
Local time
4:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Columbia Heights, MN
Afternoon
in Columbia Heights on Wednesday
Local time
4:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
17 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
2h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for 97% of this 131-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 93.7 miles, primarily on State Highway 65. The transition to surface roads is minimal, meaning you'll experience consistent cruising for the majority of the trip. You'll notice the dense network of exits and on-ramps as you navigate these main thoroughfares.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.7 mi on State Highway 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and MN 210. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 45m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.8 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 93.7 miles on State Highway 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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, 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 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.8 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia Heights, MN before heading back.
