Woodbury, MN to Spring Park, MN is 156.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m via State Highway 65 and US Highway 169, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a mostly highway experience for this drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive time, this is a straightforward route well-suited for a single day.
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
78.4 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m 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
I 94
8.3 mi
9m
I 494
7.9 mi
9m
MN 101
6.9 mi
8m
CR 15
6.5 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 65
— 53.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,726 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~212 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 99 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 Spring Park, 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
7.9 mi·9 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 19BToward US 12 West: WayzataUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
Toward US 12 West: WayzataUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 12
2.3 mi·2 min·Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·53 sec
Exit 153Toward CR 15 WestUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on CR 15
6.5 mi·12 min·CR 15
Toward Lake MinnetonkaUse the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
CR 15
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Woodbury in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since this is a single-day trip. With a drive time of just over three hours and only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the majority of the drive is on highways where services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $26, so plan accordingly. Since you'll be on State Highway 65 for a significant portion, be aware of potential traffic patterns common to busy state routes.
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 78.4 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 37m 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 37m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spring Park, 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 156.7 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 128.9 and 149.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
146.2 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19B
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
7
146.8 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 12 West: Wayzata
7
149.6 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward CR 15 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 153
Toward CR 15 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.47 one way
$52.93 round trip
$4.29/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.77
$29.42
$58.84
premium
$5.31
$32.73
$65.47
diesel
$6.18
$38.15
$76.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.71
$6.27
EV Truck/SUV
62.7
0
$21.94
$10.03
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Morning
in Woodbury on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
SW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Spring Park, MN
Morning
in Spring Park on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
SSW 10 to 15 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 14m 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 almost entirely highway, with 96% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on State Highway 65, covering 53.3 miles. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the trip, around mile 150. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits for much of the drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
8/10
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 128.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 156.7 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 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft883 ft
Total Climb
177 ft
Total Descent
546 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
434 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 Spring Park, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 156.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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 Spring Park, 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 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Spring Park, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
