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Trip from Woodbury, MN to French Lake, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 11m

Distance

150.5 mi

242 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 59m ★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States

Woodbury, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown French Lake, MN, MN

French Lake, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Woodbury, MN to French Lake, MN is 150.5 miles and takes about 3h 11m via State Highway 65, MN 23, and MN-15 S, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive. With a high percentage of highway travel, it's a quick connection between two points without extensive detours. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from the Woodbury area to French Lake, focusing on reaching your destination with minimal 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

75.2 miles from Woodbury, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 65 53.3 mi 1h 7m
MN 23 49.8 mi 1h
MN-15 S 17.6 mi 22m
MN 210 16.9 mi 20m
MN 24 6.8 mi 8m
County Road 3 Northwest 3.7 mi 6m
Oliver Avenue Northwest 1.6 mi 2m
2nd Street South 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 65 — 53.3 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and French Lake, 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

53 mi · 1 hr 7 min · State Highway 65
4

Turn right onto MN 23

33 mi · 37 min · MN 23
5

Enter roundabout onto MN 23

125 ft · 1 sec · MN 23
6

Continue on MN 23

17 mi · 23 min · MN 23
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto 33rd Avenue South

0.3 mi · 41 sec · 33rd Avenue South
8

Turn right onto CR 75

0.3 mi · 32 sec · 2nd Street South
9

Turn left onto MN 15

18 mi · 22 min · MN-15 S
Use the left lane.
10

Turn sharp left onto MN 24; MN 55

6.8 mi · 8 min · MN 24; MN 55
11

Turn right onto CR 3

0.4 mi · 47 sec · County Road 3 Northwest
12

Continue on CR 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · Oliver Avenue Northwest
13

Continue on CR 3

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road 3 Northwest
14

Continue on CR 3

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Oliver Avenue Northwest
15

Continue on CR 3

2.3 mi · 4 min · County Road 3 Northwest
16

Arrive at destination

CR 3

Trip Plan

Given the 3h 11m duration, this trip is comfortably completed in a single day, so you can leave anytime that suits you. The estimated fuel cost is $22, so plan accordingly. With only one recommended stop and a long stretch of 53.3 miles on State Highway 65, you might want to fill up on gas before heading out or plan your single stop strategically. Since the drive is relatively short, you'll have plenty of flexibility for departure time and breaks.

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 75.2 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.3 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 33 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 75.2 miles or 1h 33m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near French Lake, 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 150.5 miles and 3h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 53.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Milaca, MN

75 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

Quamba, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Braham, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.2 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Cloud, Minnesota

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 118.2

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 118.2

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Tamarack Wayside Rest

0 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

MN-210: McGregor Rest Area

0.4 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.4 mi from route

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 118.2

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 118.2

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

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 17.1 and 138.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
17.1 mi into trip | ~21m in | MN 65 / State Highway 65

Turn left onto MN 65 / State Highway 65

Navigation decision point

4
70.4 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | MN 23

Turn right onto MN 23

Navigation decision point

5
103.2 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | MN 23

Enter roundabout onto MN 23

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
120.5 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | CR 75 / 2nd Street South

Turn right onto CR 75 / 2nd Street South

Navigation decision point

5
138.4 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in | MN 24; MN 55

Turn sharp left onto MN 24; MN 55

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.40 one way

$44.79 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 53 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $24.13 $48.27
premium $4.53 $26.85 $53.71
diesel $5.61 $33.23 $66.46

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: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.2 0 $15.80 $7.22
Efficient EV 37.6 0 $13.17 $6.02
EV Truck/SUV 60.2 0 $21.07 $9.63

Gas CO2

53 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (66% 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 19, 2026

Origin

Woodbury, MN

Morning in Woodbury on Sunday

Local time

8:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

21°F

Partly Cloudy

NW 5 to 15 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Destination

French Lake, MN

Morning in French Lake on Sunday

Local time

8:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

50 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 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 150.5 miles on main roads like State Highway 65, MN 23, and MN-15 S. You'll experience a longest stretch of 53.3 miles on State Highway 65, likely offering a smooth, open-road feel. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring only in the final miles as you approach French Lake. Expect mostly highway cruising with very little time spent on slower, local roads.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.3 mi on State Highway 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and MN 23. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Woodbury, MN to French Lake, MN is easy. At 3h 11m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 70.4 miles (MN 23): Navigation decision point; at 103.2 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 150.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 53.3 miles on State Highway 65. 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.

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): Navigation decision point; at 70.4 miles (MN 23): Navigation decision point; at 103.2 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at French Lake, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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