Woodbury, MN to Faribault, MN is 190 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I 35 and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest. The route is almost entirely highway, making for a straightforward and efficient drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two areas without much fuss.
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
95 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
86.9 mi
1h 33m
I 35W
70.9 mi
1h 21m
State Highway 73
23.7 mi
40m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
Lyndale Avenue North
1.9 mi
3m
4th Street Northwest
0.7 mi
1m
Arrowhead Lane
0.7 mi
1m
Folz Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,620 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,241
Quietest
2 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Faribault, 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
71 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
296 ft·3 sec
Toward MN 21
14
Continue on I 35 Business
0.2 mi·19 sec·I 35 Business
Toward MN 21, I 35 Business
15
Continue on MN 21; I 35 Business; I 35 Alternate
0.1 mi·14 sec·Shieldsville Boulevard
16
Continue on I 35 Business; MN 21; I 35 Alternate
1.9 mi·3 min·Lyndale Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto MN 60
0.3 mi·51 sec·Highway 60 West
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on MN 60
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Street Northwest
19
Turn left
69 ft·5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 190-mile drive, you can easily complete it in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where to pull over, but keep an eye on your fuel levels as the longest stretch without exits is over 80 miles. The $28 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to check current prices before you depart. Since it's a relatively short highway drive, you can be flexible with your departure time.
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 95 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 42 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Faribault, 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 190 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 35 for about 86.9 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 0.2 and 115.8 — 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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.96 one way
$63.93 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$34.42
$68.85
premium
$5.04
$37.67
$75.34
diesel
$5.64
$42.18
$84.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57
0
$19.95
$9.12
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
EV Truck/SUV
76
0
$26.60
$12.16
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 9, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Evening
in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Sunny
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 9 at 1:50PM CDT until May 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 9 at 11:31AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Faribault, MN
Evening
in Faribault on Friday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 9 at 1:50PM CDT until May 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 9 at 11:31AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
7 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
3h 49m 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?
You'll spend nearly all of your time on the highway, with 98% of the 190 miles being high-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 86.9 miles on I 35. You'll notice the highway ends and surface roads begin as you approach your destination, as much of the route is on major interstates. Expect a consistent cruising pace for the majority of this drive.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MN 210.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 49m drive. You will face about 11 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 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 28.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft833 ft
Total Climb
293 ft
Total Descent
617 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
484 ft
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 Faribault, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis along the way.
Faribault (pronounced FAYR-boh) is a city in Southern Minnesota. It is the county seat of Rice County and located at the confluence of the Cannon and Straight rivers.
Top landmarks
•Shattuck-Saint Mary's School — private secondary school in Faribault, Minnesota
•Alexander Faribault House — Historic house in Faribault, Minnesota, United States
•Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour — historic church in Minnesota, United States
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Faribault, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
