Woodbury, MN to Stillwater, MN is 135.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m via I 35 and State Highway 73, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically in Minnesota, making it a straightforward trip. With 81% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly efficient travel. This route is best suited for a single day, offering a manageable distance for a quick getaway or an easy commute.
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
67.8 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
82.4 mi
1h 28m
State Highway 73
23.7 mi
40m
Manning Trail North
10.7 mi
15m
Scandia Trail North
5 mi
6m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
Dellwood Road
2.9 mi
5m
Manning Avenue North
1.8 mi
3m
Main Street North
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 82.4 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Stillwater, 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
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 35
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 131Toward CR 2: Forest LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CH 2
0.9 mi·2 min·West Broadway Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 61
14 ft·0 sec·Lake Street South
15
Continue on US 61
1.3 mi·2 min·Lake Street South
16
Enter roundabout onto US 97
266 ft·4 sec·Scandia Trail North
17
Continue on US 97
0.4 mi·33 sec·Scandia Trail North
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 97
129 ft·2 sec·Scandia Trail North
19
Continue on MN 97
4.6 mi·6 min·Scandia Trail North
20
Turn right onto CH 15
11 mi·15 min·Manning Trail North
21
Continue on CH 15
1.8 mi·3 min·Manning Avenue North
22
Enter roundabout onto MN 96
231 ft·4 sec·Dellwood Road
23
Continue on MN 96
2.8 mi·4 min·Dellwood Road
24
Turn right onto MN 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street North
25
Arrive at destination
MN 95
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 55m duration, departing Woodbury, MN in the morning will allow you to reach Stillwater, MN with plenty of daylight remaining. While there's only one recommended stop, the drive is short enough that you can be flexible with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $22; planning a fill-up before you leave Woodbury or midway through I 35 is advisable. The transition from highway to surface roads around Manning Trail North is a good point to reorient yourself and check your navigation.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.4 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 30 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stillwater, 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 135.5 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 I 35 for about 82.4 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 0.2 and 111.6 — 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
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
7
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward CR 2: Forest Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward CR 2: Forest Lake
6
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Turn left onto CH 2 / West Broadway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.25 one way
$44.49 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$23.79
$47.59
premium
$4.95
$26.40
$52.79
diesel
$5.35
$28.54
$57.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.7
0
$14.23
$6.50
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
EV Truck/SUV
54.2
0
$18.97
$8.67
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 May 20, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Afternoon
in Woodbury on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Frost
SE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Stillwater, MN
Afternoon
in Stillwater on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Centerville, MN
68 mi in
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
6 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 55m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with 81% of the 135.5 miles on high-speed roads like I 35. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 82.4 miles on I 35. Expect to transition to surface roads, such as Manning Trail North, after the main highway sections conclude. The dense exit patterns on I 35 will be a noticeable aspect of this driving experience.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 73. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MN 210.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Woodbury, MN to Stillwater, MN is easy. At 2h 55m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MN 210): Navigation decision point; at 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 28.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft693 ft
Total Climb
164 ft
Total Descent
789 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
625 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Woodbury, MN and Stillwater, MN, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Cr 2: Forest Lake.
The longest stretch is about 82.4 miles on I 35. 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.
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 27.9 miles (State Highway 73): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 28.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stillwater, MN before heading back.
