Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 53m
Distance
194.9 mi
314 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbury, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Warsaw, MN
Aleksander Dumała
Woodbury, MN to Warsaw, MN is 194.9 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 35, I 35W, and State Highway 73, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward journey through Minnesota. Given its highway focus and manageable duration, it's a solid option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for an efficient transit. Plan for a trip that prioritizes getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
97.4 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 86.9 mi | 1h 33m |
| I 35W | 73.1 mi | 1h 24m |
| State Highway 73 | 23.7 mi | 40m |
| Morristown Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| MN 210 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Highway 60 West | 1 mi | 1m |
| Arrowhead Lane | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Folz Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Warsaw, MN.
Start on CR 127
Turn left onto MN 210
Turn right onto MN 73
Continue on MN 73
Continue on MN 27; MN 73
Turn right onto MN 73; CR 61
Continue on MN 73; CR 61
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
Continue on State Highway 73
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MN 60; I 35 ALT
Continue on MN 60; I 35 ALT
Turn right onto CR 13
Arrive at destination
With a duration of under 4 hours, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and ensure you arrive well before evening. The longest continuous stretch is 86.9 miles on I 35, so plan a fuel or rest stop before or after this segment. Given the route's efficiency, you won't need to worry about extensive meal breaks, but it's always wise to have snacks and water on hand. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Warsaw, MN, as services can be more spread out in rural areas.
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.
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 43 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 2h 1m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Warsaw, MN than in the middle of the route.
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 194.9 miles and 3h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 97.4 miles from Woodbury, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.9 and 189.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto State Highway 73
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 60 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$29.00 one way
$58.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $31.25 | $62.51 |
| premium | $4.53 | $34.78 | $69.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.03 | $86.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.46 | $9.36 |
| Efficient EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.05 | $7.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78 | 0 | $27.29 | $12.47 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Woodbury on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
24°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Warsaw on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of the drive utilizing major roads like I 35 and I 35W. Expect a consistent driving experience for long stretches, including one segment of 86.9 miles entirely on I 35. While the majority of the journey involves this fast-paced interstate travel, you will transition to State Highway 73 for the final leg. This highway-centric profile means you'll likely encounter higher speed limits and fewer local road complexities for most of the 194.9 miles.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 27.9 miles in near State Highway 73.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 194.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 28.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Woodbury, MN to Warsaw, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis along the way.
Minneapolis
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 194.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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