Woodbury, MN to Dahlgren, MN is 164 miles and takes about 3h 24m via State Highway 65, US 212, and MN 210, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Minnesota the entire way. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on well-maintained highways. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day trip without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you're looking for efficiency and ease of travel between these two points.
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
82 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 65
93.7 mi
1h 55m
US 212
18.6 mi
21m
MN 210
16.9 mi
20m
MN 65
16.5 mi
21m
MN 100
13 mi
16m
I 694
1.8 mi
2m
Crosstown Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Gisler Road
0.2 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 Dahlgren, 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
1.8 mi·2 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 35AToward MN 100Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MN 62 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MN 62
1.7 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 212
4.6 mi·5 min·US 212
Exit 106AToward US 212Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
14 mi·16 min·US 212
Use the slight left lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 43
143 ft·3 sec·County Road 43
15
Arrive at destination
CR 43
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3h 24m duration, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight for the 164-mile journey and any brief stops you might want to make. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $24, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 93.7-mile stretch on State Highway 65, to ensure you don't need to go far out of your way for a gas station.
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 82 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 41m 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 41m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dahlgren, 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 164 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 145.5 — 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
7
129.7 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
7
145.5 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.41 one way
$48.81 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$26.30
$52.60
premium
$4.53
$29.26
$58.52
diesel
$5.61
$36.21
$72.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.96
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Afternoon
in Woodbury on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dahlgren, MN
Afternoon
in Dahlgren on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
18 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
3h 24m 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 drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like State Highway 65, US 212, and MN 210. You'll experience a consistent highway-focused profile for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 93.7 miles on State Highway 65, offering a good opportunity to settle in. The road character remains steady, making for a predictable driving experience without significant changes in terrain or road type.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 164 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 164 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.7 miles on State Highway 65. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dahlgren, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Dahlgren, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
