Woodbury, MN to East Grand Forks, MN is 240.7 miles and takes about 5h via US 2, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend the majority of your time on US Highway 2, so expect consistent travel with fewer interruptions.
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
120.4 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 2
81.4 mi
1h 34m
US Highway 2
67.9 mi
1h 23m
University Avenue
21.5 mi
25m
United States Route 2
17.7 mi
20m
State Highway 73
17.6 mi
30m
Northwest 4th Street
14.9 mi
21m
US-2
11.8 mi
13m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 2
— 81.4 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and East Grand Forks, 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 left onto MN 73
18 mi·30 min·State Highway 73
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; MN 73
0.3 mi·19 sec·Elm Street
5
Continue on US 2
18 mi·20 min·United States Route 2
6
Enter roundabout onto US 2
131 ft·1 sec·US 2
7
Continue on US 2
19 mi·21 min·US 2
8
Turn left onto US 2; US 169
0.4 mi·1 min·Northeast 4th Street
9
Continue on US 2
15 mi·21 min·Northwest 4th Street
10
Continue on US 2
68 mi·1 hr 23 min·US Highway 2
11
Continue on US-2
12 mi·13 min·US-2
12
Continue on US 2
62 mi·1 hr 12 min·US 2
13
Turn right onto US 2
0.4 mi·31 sec·North Broadway
14
Turn left onto US 2
0.4 mi·27 sec·West 6th Street
15
Continue on US 2
21 mi·25 min·University Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 2 Business
2.6 mi·3 min·US 2 Business
17
Turn right onto DeMers Avenue
48 ft·1 sec·DeMers Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
DeMers Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Woodbury, MN in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach East Grand Forks, MN with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $40, this route is manageable for a single day without extensive planning. Pay attention as you transition from highway to surface roads; this often occurs in the final miles and may involve changes in speed limits and exit frequency. The longest stretch without a major break is over 80 miles on US 2, so ensure you have enough fuel before starting that segment.
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 120.4 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 53 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.4 miles or 2h 38m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Grand Forks, 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 240.7 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 US 2 for about 81.4 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 0.2 and 215.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MN 210
Turn left onto MN 210
Navigation decision point
4
3.8 mi into trip|~4m in|MN 73 / State Highway 73
Turn left onto MN 73 / State Highway 73
Navigation decision point
4
21.4 mi into trip|~35m in|US 2; MN 73 / Elm Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; MN 73 / Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
39.4 mi into trip|~56m in|US 2
Enter roundabout onto US 2
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
215.9 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|US 2 / North Broadway
Turn right onto US 2 / North Broadway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.49 one way
$80.99 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$43.61
$87.22
premium
$5.04
$47.72
$95.45
diesel
$5.64
$53.44
$106.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.27
$11.55
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.06
$9.63
EV Truck/SUV
96.3
1
$33.70
$15.40
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Evening
in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Grand Forks, MN
Evening
in East Grand Forks on Friday
Local time
6:59 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
4 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 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 84% of the 240.7 miles on major roads like US 2. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 81.4 miles on US 2, offering a good sense of open road cruising. The remaining portion will transition to surface roads, likely involving more local traffic and intersections as you approach your destination. Expect the highway experience to dominate for the bulk of your travel time.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.4 mi on US 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 2 and US Highway 2. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MN 210.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 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 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (MN 73 / State Highway 73): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles (US 2; MN 73 / Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
East Grand Forks is a city in Northwestern Minnesota. It's the smaller neighbor of the much better known Grand Forks, North Dakota. EGF's population peaked at about 8,985 in 1996 estimate, before the city was badly damaged during the incredible Red River Flood of 1997. Due to the determination of residents, the generous assistance of government agencies, and private investment that can only be described as "optimistic," the city's population rebounded from almost 0 during the flood, to about 7,501 at the 2000 census. It is home to about 9,000 people (census, 1 April 2020)
The longest stretch is about 81.4 miles on US 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (MN 73 / State Highway 73): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles (US 2; MN 73 / Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Grand Forks, MN before the return drive.
