Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
174.8 mi
281 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbury, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Lester Prairie, MN
Tom Fisk
Woodbury, MN to Lester Prairie, MN is 174.8 miles and takes about 3h 45m via State Highway 65 and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving you across the Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Given the relatively short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you structure your stops.
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
87.4 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| 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 |
| State Highway 25 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| County Road 30 Southwest | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| 10th Street Northeast | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Babcock Avenue | 4.7 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Lester Prairie, MN.
Start on CR 127
Turn right onto MN 210
Turn left onto MN 65
Turn right onto MN 23
Turn left
Merge onto US 169
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
Continue on US 169
Continue on MN 101
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 36
Enter roundabout onto MN 241
Continue on MN 241
Continue on CR 35
Turn slight left onto CR 35
Continue on CR 35
Turn straight onto CR 120
Continue on CR 120
Continue on CR 120
Turn right onto CR 34
Enter roundabout onto CR 34
Continue on CR 34
Continue on Settlers Parkway
Enter roundabout onto MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Continue on MN 25
At end of road, turn right onto US 12; MN 25
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
Continue on US 12; MN 25
Turn left onto MN 25
Continue on MN 25
Turn right onto CR 30
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
Continue on CSAH 1
Continue on CSAH 1
Enter roundabout onto CSAH 1
Continue on CSAH 1
Turn left onto CR 23
Turn left onto Juniper Street South
Turn right onto 1st Avenue South
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour, 45-minute drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour around the Twin Cities metro area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $28, this is easily manageable in a single day. The longest stretch without a major road change is 53.3 miles on State Highway 65, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. This route is well-suited for a flexible schedule, allowing you to depart and arrive at your convenience.
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.
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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.4 miles or 1h 47m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lester Prairie, MN than in the middle of the route.
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 174.8 miles and 3h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 87.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 174.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto MN 65 / State Highway 65
Navigation decision point
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
Turn right onto CR 36 / 45th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 34 / 10th Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 1st Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$27.68 one way
$55.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $29.48 | $58.95 |
| premium | $4.85 | $33.36 | $66.73 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $38.53 | $77.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.35 | $8.39 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $6.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.47 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Fog
Destination
Afternoon in Lester Prairie on Friday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 80% of this 174.8-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 53.3 miles on State Highway 65. After the highway portions, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive into Lester Prairie. Expect a steady cruising pace for the majority of the trip, with a noticeable shift in scenery and traffic as you move from the main highways to smaller roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and US Highway 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 174.8 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 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
217 ft
Total Descent
553 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
422 ft
Founded 1967
Woodbury is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 174.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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