Woodbury, MN to Rock Creek, MN is 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 44m via I 35 and MN 210, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is almost entirely on major highways, making for a straightforward and efficient drive. It's a short enough distance to be completed in a single day, perfect for a quick getaway or a visit to a nearby area without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
48.5 mi
51m
State Highway 73
23.7 mi
40m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
Highway 70
1.1 mi
1m
Forest Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Arrowhead Lane
0.7 mi
1m
Folz Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Gisler Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 48.5 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Rock Creek, MN.
1
Start on CR 127
0.2 mi·33 sec·Gisler Road
2
Turn left onto MN 210
3.6 mi·4 min·MN 210
3
Turn right onto MN 73
6.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 73
4
Continue on MN 73
16 mi·26 min·State Highway 73
5
Continue on MN 27; MN 73
0.5 mi·1 min·Folz Boulevard
6
Turn right onto MN 73; CR 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Arrowhead Lane
7
Continue on MN 73; CR 61
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
8
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
136 ft·8 sec·State Highway 73
9
Continue on State Highway 73
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
11
Merge onto I 35
48 mi·51 min·I 35
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward MN 70: Rock Creek, Grantsburg
13
Turn left onto MN 70
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 70
14
Turn right onto CR 61
0.7 mi·1 min·Forest Boulevard
15
Turn right onto 558 Street
482 ft·21 sec·558 Street
16
Arrive at destination
558 Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 44 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart any time of day and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is under 80 miles, you likely won't need more than one quick stop for fuel or a restroom break, which can be taken during the 48.5-mile stretch on I 35. Plan your departure around local traffic, especially if leaving Woodbury during peak commuting hours. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so be sure to fill up before you leave or at a convenient point along the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.8 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.5 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 18 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 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 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Creek, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woodbury, MN
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Woodbury, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 48.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 77.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MN 210
Turn left onto MN 210
Navigation decision point
4
26.4 mi into trip|~43m in|MN 73; CR 61 / Arrowhead Lane
Turn right onto MN 73; CR 61 / Arrowhead Lane
Navigation decision point
5
27.9 mi into trip|~46m in|State Highway 73
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
28.7 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward MN 70: Rock Creek, Grantsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 70: Rock Creek, Grantsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.60 one way
$25.21 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$13.42
$26.84
premium
$4.85
$15.19
$30.39
diesel
$5.60
$17.55
$35.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.97
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 Aug 28, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Fog
N 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rock Creek, MN
Late night
in Rock Creek on Friday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
N 0 to 5 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
3 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
1h 44m 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 primarily highway cruising, with 97% of the 79.6 miles on major roads like I 35 and MN 210. You'll experience a long stretch of 48.5 miles on I 35, offering a consistent cruising experience. Expect to transition from interstate speeds to surface roads as you approach your destination, though the highway portion dominates the route. The dense exit structure of the interstate will be a noticeable element for much of the drive.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 73. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MN 210.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 26.4 miles (MN 73; CR 61 / Arrowhead Lane): Navigation decision point; at 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,318 ft939 ft
Total Climb
69 ft
Total Descent
447 ft
Highest Point
1,318 ft
~5.7 mi in
Elevation Range
379 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 Rock Creek, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.5 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 26.4 miles (MN 73; CR 61 / Arrowhead Lane): Navigation decision point; at 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rock Creek, MN before heading back.
