Woodbury, MN to Mayer, MN is 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 33m via State Highway 65 and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Minnesota. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-traveled highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. With 98% of the route on highways, you can expect a consistent and efficient pace for most of the 173.3 miles. Plan for a simple, no-fuss transit between these two Minnesota locations.
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
86.7 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m 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
Minnesota State Highway 7
13.2 mi
18m
I 494
11.1 mi
13m
MN 7
8.4 mi
11m
I 94
8.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 65
— 53.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,722 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 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 Mayer, 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
6.9 mi·8 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
11
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi·9 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 494
11 mi·13 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 16BToward MN 7 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto MN 7
13 mi·18 min·Minnesota State Highway 7
16
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
132 ft·2 sec·MN 7
17
Continue on MN 7
5.8 mi·7 min·MN 7
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 7
151 ft·2 sec·MN 7
19
Continue on MN 7
2.5 mi·3 min·MN 7
20
Enter roundabout onto MN 25
273 ft·4 sec·Captain Jeffrey Vollmer Memorial Highway
21
Continue on MN 25
1.3 mi·1 min·Captain Jeffrey Vollmer Memorial Highway
22
Enter roundabout onto MN 25
115 ft·2 sec·Captain Jeffrey Vollmer Memorial Highway
23
Continue on MN 25
0.2 mi·19 sec·Captain Jeffrey Vollmer Memorial Highway
24
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·34 sec·Ash Avenue North/Captain Jeffrey Vollmer Memorial Highway
25
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
75 ft·3 sec·1st Street Northeast
26
Arrive at destination
1st Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 33m estimated duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, and you can depart at your leisure. Consider starting your drive in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With a fuel cost estimate of $25, be sure to check your fuel levels before leaving Woodbury, MN, especially since the longest stretch without a likely stop is 53.3 miles on State Highway 65. While there's only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this route without needing to break it into multiple days.
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 86.7 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 46m 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 46m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mayer, 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 173.3 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 149.4 — 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
5
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
5
129.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
137.9 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
149.4 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16B
Toward MN 7 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.45 one way
$56.90 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$30.43
$60.86
premium
$4.95
$33.76
$67.52
diesel
$5.35
$36.50
$73.00
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: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Afternoon
in Woodbury on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 2:20AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Mayer, MN
Afternoon
in Mayer on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 5 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 2:20AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
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
10 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 33m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 98% of the 173.3 miles covered on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 53.3 miles on State Highway 65 without needing to exit. The route primarily utilizes State Highway 65 and US Highway 169, with MN 23 also playing a role. Expect to encounter a high concentration of highway driving for the majority of your travel time.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 65 and US Highway 169. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft866 ft
Total Climb
171 ft
Total Descent
521 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
451 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 Mayer, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
128.9 mi in|~2h 35m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 5 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 Mayer, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.1 miles (MN 65 / State Highway 65): Navigation decision point; at 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Mayer, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
