Woodbury, MN to Independence, MN is 148.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m via State Highway 65 and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily within Minnesota, making it a straightforward drive. With 88% of the route on highways, expect a generally efficient travel experience. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
74.2 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 65
53.3 mi
1h 7m
US Highway 169
32.9 mi
37m
MN 23
18.3 mi
20m
MN 210
16.9 mi
20m
Jansen Avenue Southeast
4.4 mi
10m
MN 101
4 mi
4m
Dogwood Street
3.4 mi
4m
MN 241
3.3 mi
4m
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 Independence, 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
18 mi·20 min·MN 23
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·45 sec
6
Merge onto US 169
6.5 mi·7 min·US Highway 169
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
26 mi·30 min·US Highway 169
8
Continue on US 169
383 ft·4 sec·POW/MIA Memorial Highway
9
Continue on MN 101
4.0 mi·4 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward CR 36: 53rd Street, 45th StreetUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 36
2.4 mi·3 min·45th Street Northeast
Use the right lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 241
96 ft·2 sec·MN 241
13
Continue on MN 241
3.3 mi·4 min·MN 241
14
Turn left onto CR 19
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street North
15
Continue on CR 19
2.6 mi·3 min·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
16
Turn slight left onto CR 19
0.2 mi·19 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
17
Enter roundabout onto CR 19
156 ft·3 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
18
Continue on CR 19
0.2 mi·24 sec·Labeaux Avenue Northeast
19
Enter roundabout onto CR 20
16 ft·0 sec·River Road Northeast
20
Continue on CR 20
1.0 mi·2 min·River Road Northeast
21
Continue on CR 20
4.4 mi·10 min·Jansen Avenue Southeast
22
Continue on CR 20
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto MN 55
1.1 mi·1 min·MN 55
24
Turn right onto CR 92
3.4 mi·4 min·Dogwood Street
25
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·25 sec·this road
26
Continue on CR 92
0.2 mi·22 sec·County Road 92
27
Turn right
0.2 mi·15 sec
28
Enter roundabout onto US 12
24 ft·0 sec·Babcock Boulevard
29
Continue on US 12
0.8 mi·1 min·Babcock Boulevard
30
Turn left onto Valley Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Valley Road
31
Arrive at destination
Valley Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 11m estimated driving time, this trip is comfortably completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take full advantage of daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. While the drive is efficient, remember the longest stretch without exiting is over 53 miles on State Highway 65, so plan your fuel stops accordingly. With a total fuel cost estimate of $22, it's an economical option. This route's single-day feasibility means you have flexibility in 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 74.2 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 32m 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 74.2 miles or 1h 32m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, 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 148.4 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 126.1 and 147.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward CR 36: 53rd Street, 45th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CR 36: 53rd Street, 45th Street
5
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|CR 36 / 45th Street Northeast
Turn right onto CR 36 / 45th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
135.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Enter roundabout onto CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
136 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|CR 20 / River Road Northeast
Enter roundabout onto CR 20 / River Road Northeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
147.4 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.08 one way
$44.17 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$23.80
$47.59
premium
$4.53
$26.48
$52.96
diesel
$5.61
$32.76
$65.53
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: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.58
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
EV Truck/SUV
59.4
0
$20.78
$9.50
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 19, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, MN
Late night
in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
WNW 5 to 15 mph36% chanceLive 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
23 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 88% of this 148.4-mile drive, meaning most of your time will be spent on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 53.3 miles, occurring on State Highway 65. Expect a smooth experience as you transition from State Highway 65 to US Highway 169 and then MN 23. The highway focus suggests a consistent pace with fewer interruptions until you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and US Highway 169. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 126.1 miles in.
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 11m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles (CR 36 / 45th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 135.8 miles (CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast): 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: 148.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 53.3 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.
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 126.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.5 miles (CR 36 / 45th Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 135.8 miles (CR 19 / Labeaux Avenue Northeast): 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 Independence, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
