Woodbury, MN to Silver Bay, MN is 100.2 miles and takes about 2h 8m via Highway 61 and I-35, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that's almost entirely on highways, making it a quick and efficient trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so it's a good option if you're looking for a simple, direct path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.1 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 61
27.7 mi
34m
I 35
23.9 mi
28m
MN 61
23.5 mi
32m
MN 210
23.4 mi
28m
7th Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Gisler Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Water Plant Road
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 61
— 27.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Silver Bay, MN.
1
Start on CR 127
0.2 mi·33 sec·Gisler Road
2
Turn left onto MN 210
23 mi·28 min·MN 210
3
Turn left
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 35 North: DuluthUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 35
24 mi·28 min·I 35
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward MN 61 North
6
Merge onto MN 61
23 mi·32 min·MN 61
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on MN 61
1.2 mi·2 min·7th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn straight onto MN 61
28 mi·34 min·Highway 61
9
Turn right onto Water Plant Road
10 ft·0 sec·Water Plant Road
10
Arrive at destination
Water Plant Road
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering just over 100 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Silver Bay and still have daylight for any immediate plans upon arrival. With a short 2-hour drive and a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need extensive planning for stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Silver Bay, as services can become less frequent on stretches of Highway 61.
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 50.1 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.7 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Silver Bay, 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 100.2 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Woodbury, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 61 for about 27.7 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 47.8 — 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
6
23.6 mi into trip|~29m in
Turn left toward I 35 North: Duluth
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 North: Duluth
3
23.8 mi into trip|~29m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
47.7 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward MN 61 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MN 61 North
5
47.8 mi into trip|~59m in|MN 61
Merge onto MN 61
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.91 one way
$29.82 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$16.07
$32.14
premium
$4.53
$17.88
$35.76
diesel
$5.61
$22.12
$44.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Late night
in Woodbury on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
21°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Silver Bay, MN
Late night
in Silver Bay on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
25 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
2h 8m 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 100.2 miles on major roads like Highway 61 and I-35. You'll experience a longest stretch of 27.7 miles on Highway 61 without significant interruptions. Expect consistent road conditions for the bulk of your travel. The shift from highway to surface roads, if any, will be minimal given the high highway percentage.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on Highway 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 61 and I 35. 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 2h 8m drive. You will face about 6 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 23.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 100.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on Highway 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 23.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Silver Bay, MN before heading back.
