Woodbury, MN to Le Center, MN is 193.4 miles and takes about 4h 8m via State Highway 65 and US 169, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Minnesota. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. You'll find it a no-frills way to get from point A to point B, with most of your travel time spent on well-maintained roads.
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
96.7 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
State Highway 65
93.7 mi
1h 55m
US 169
17.6 mi
20m
MN 210
16.9 mi
20m
MN 65
16.5 mi
21m
MN 100
15.3 mi
19m
Aberdeen Avenue
4.5 mi
6m
201st Avenue
4 mi
5m
211th Avenue
3 mi
4m
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 Le Center, 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
15 mi·19 min·MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 WestUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
1.5 mi·1 min·I 494; MN 5
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 10AToward US 169 South, US 169 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·57 sec
Toward US 169 SouthUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto US 169
13 mi·15 min·US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 106Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
226 ft·7 sec
Toward CR 78: Chestnut BoulevardUse the left lane.
17
Continue on CR 78
0.2 mi·25 sec·County Road 78
18
Turn right onto Louisville Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Louisville Road
19
Turn right onto 147th Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·147th Street
20
Turn left onto Red Rock Drive
0.3 mi·34 sec·Red Rock Drive
21
Take the ramp
261 ft·7 sec
Toward US 169 South
22
Merge onto US 169
4.3 mi·4 min·US 169
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Use the right lane.
24
Turn straight onto MN 21
1.4 mi·3 min·Broadway Street North
25
Continue on MN 21
482 ft·7 sec·Helena Boulevard
26
Enter roundabout onto Old Highway 169 Boulevard
44 ft·0 sec·Old Highway 169 Boulevard
27
Continue on Old Highway 169 Boulevard
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Highway 169 Boulevard
28
Turn left onto CR 61
4.5 mi·6 min·Aberdeen Avenue
29
Turn right onto CR 4
1.0 mi·1 min·250th Street West
30
Turn left onto CR 7
2.9 mi·4 min·Church Avenue
31
At end of road, turn right onto MN 19
243 ft·9 sec·Main Street West
32
Turn left onto CR 31
4.0 mi·5 min·201st Avenue
33
At end of road, turn right onto CR 28
1.0 mi·1 min·320th Street
34
Turn left onto CR 32
3.0 mi·4 min·211th Avenue
35
At end of road, turn right onto CR 26
0.7 mi·1 min·Lexington Road
36
Turn left onto CR 32
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road 32
37
Continue on CR 32
1.0 mi·1 min·360th Street
38
Turn left onto CR 11
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 11
39
Continue on CR 11
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cordova Avenue
40
Turn right onto CR 39
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Minnesota Street
41
Turn left onto South Waterville Avenue
30 ft·0 sec·South Waterville Avenue
42
Arrive at destination
South Waterville Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach Le Center before evening. With only one recommended stop and a highway-heavy profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider the longest stretch of 93.7 miles on State Highway 65; that's a good point to plan for a brief break if needed, perhaps around the time you switch to US 169. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway cruising can consume fuel steadily, and your estimated cost is $31.
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 96.7 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 59m 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.7 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Center, 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 193.4 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 32
5 decision points cluster between mile 129.7 and 161.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
145.6 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
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 I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
147.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 169 South, US 169 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward US 169 South, US 169 North
8
161.5 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
8
161.8 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.54 one way
$65.07 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$35.04
$70.08
premium
$5.04
$38.34
$76.69
diesel
$5.64
$42.94
$85.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58
0
$20.31
$9.28
Efficient EV
48.4
0
$16.92
$7.74
EV Truck/SUV
77.4
0
$27.08
$12.38
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Evening
in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
7:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Le Center, MN
Evening
in Le Center on Friday
Local time
7:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
17 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
4h 8m 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 85% of the 193.4 miles on major routes. You'll experience a long stretch of 93.7 miles on State Highway 65 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a consistent highway pace for most of the trip, with fewer transitions to surface streets than you might anticipate. This means a good amount of uninterrupted cruising is likely.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 129.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 193.4 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 129.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 193.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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.
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.
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 Le Center, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 129.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Le Center, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
