Woodbury, MN to New Ulm, MN is 211.8 miles and takes about 4h 31m via State Highway 65 and MN 23, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traveling entirely within Minnesota. You'll find this route to be mostly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct drive between these two points.
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
105.9 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m 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
46.8 mi
59m
State Highway 15
40.9 mi
52m
MN 210
16.9 mi
20m
Main Street North
2 mi
4m
North Broadway
0.6 mi
1m
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 New Ulm, 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
47 mi·59 min·MN-15 S
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on MN 15
0.3 mi·34 sec·Main Street North
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 15
102 ft·1 sec·Main Street North
12
Continue on MN 15
1.7 mi·4 min·Main Street North
13
Continue on MN 15
1.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto MN 15
116 ft·4 sec·State Highway 15
15
Continue on MN 15
39 mi·49 min·State Highway 15
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 14; MN 15
141 ft·6 sec·US Highway 14
17
Continue on US 14; MN 15
0.2 mi·24 sec·US Highway 14
18
Continue on US 14; MN 15
0.3 mi·48 sec·7th North Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto MN 15; MN 68
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 13
428 ft·16 sec·Center Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on CR 13
440 ft·20 sec·Center Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
CR 13
Trip Plan
This 211.8-mile drive can easily be completed in a single day, so you have the flexibility to leave when it suits you best. Consider an early departure to maximize daylight and avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With a drive time of around 4 hours and 31 minutes, you might only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is around $35, so keep that in mind as you budget for the trip. Since most of the route is highway, watch for the transition points where you might encounter more local traffic as you approach your destination.
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 105.9 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 2h 9m 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 47 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.9 miles or 2h 9m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Ulm, 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 211.8 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 211.7 — 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
103.2 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|MN 23
Enter roundabout onto MN 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
211.1 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|MN 15; MN 68 / North Broadway
Turn left onto MN 15; MN 68 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
211.6 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|CR 13 / Center Street
Turn right onto CR 13 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
211.7 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|CR 13 / Center Street
Continue onto CR 13 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.50 one way
$70.99 round trip
$4.26/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$37.81
$75.61
premium
$5.15
$42.92
$85.84
diesel
$6.18
$51.52
$103.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.24
$10.17
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.53
$8.47
EV Truck/SUV
84.7
1
$29.65
$13.56
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Ulm, MN
Late night
in New Ulm on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 0 to 10 mph0% 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
5 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 31m 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?
Expect a high percentage of highway driving, with 98% of the 211.8 miles on main roads like State Highway 65 and MN 23. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 53.3 miles on State Highway 65, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, so plan for mostly uninterrupted travel on well-maintained routes.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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 MN 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.1 miles in near MN 65 / State Highway 65.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 31m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 103.2 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 211.1 miles (MN 15; MN 68 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here.
New Ulm is a prosperous small city in Southern Minnesota. It is the seat of Brown County, and had population of 14,000 in 2020. The people of New Ulm are very proud of their German heritage, and commemorate it year round with parades, parties, and holiday celebrations.
Top landmarks
•Hermann Heights Monument — monument topped with statue of a German warrior in New Ulm, Minnesota
•Grand Hotel — hotel in New Ulm, Minnesota, United States
•Wanda Gág House — childhood home of Wanda Gag and now a museum of her work
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 103.2 miles (MN 23): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 211.1 miles (MN 15; MN 68 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at New Ulm, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
