Woodbury, MN to Wheatland, MN is 186.6 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 35, I 35W, and State Highway 73, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Minnesota. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for efficient travel between these two locations.
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
93.3 miles from Woodbury, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
86.9 mi
1h 33m
I 35W
52.9 mi
1h 2m
State Highway 73
23.7 mi
40m
30th Street West
5.1 mi
7m
State Highway 19
4 mi
5m
MN 210
3.6 mi
4m
70th Street West
2.6 mi
3m
Natchez Avenue
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,620 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,241
Quietest
2 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Wheatland, 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
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 76Toward CR 2: Elko, New MarketUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 2
1.9 mi·2 min·260th Street East
15
Enter roundabout onto CR 91
225 ft·4 sec·Natchez Avenue
16
Continue on CR 91
2.0 mi·2 min·Natchez Avenue
17
At end of road, turn right onto CR 86
5.1 mi·7 min·30th Street West
18
Enter roundabout onto MN 19
201 ft·11 sec·State Highway 19
19
Continue on MN 19
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 19
20
Turn right onto CR 2
2.6 mi·3 min·70th Street West
21
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
1.6 mi·6 min·Kent Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto Union Lake Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Union Lake Trail
23
Arrive at destination
Union Lake Trail
Trip Plan
Consider departing Woodbury in the morning to take advantage of daylight for the entire 186.6-mile trip. With a driving time of just under 4 hours, you'll have plenty of flexibility for stops. The estimated fuel cost is around $28, so plan accordingly. Since this is a single-day drive, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 35W to State Highway 73, as this marks the shift from interstate cruising to more local roads as you approach Wheatland.
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 93.3 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 41 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wheatland, 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 186.6 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 86.9 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 27.9 and 168.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
28.9 mi into trip|~48m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
8
168.7 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward CR 2: Elko, New Market
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 76
Toward CR 2: Elko, New Market
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.39 one way
$62.78 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$33.81
$67.62
premium
$5.04
$37.00
$73.99
diesel
$5.64
$41.43
$82.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56
0
$19.59
$8.96
Efficient EV
46.7
0
$16.33
$7.46
EV Truck/SUV
74.6
0
$26.12
$11.94
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 9, 2026
Origin
Woodbury, MN
Night
in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Sunny
NW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 9 at 1:50PM CDT until May 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 9 at 11:31AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Wheatland, MN
Night
in Wheatland on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NNW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued May 9 at 1:50PM CDT until May 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 9 at 11:31AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
7 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
3h 53m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 186.6 miles on major roads like I 35 and I 35W. You'll encounter an 86.9-mile stretch on I 35 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will happen later in the drive, as State Highway 73 makes up the final portion. Expect a consistent pace on the interstates, with the rural character of Minnesota becoming more apparent as you near Wheatland.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.9 miles in near State Highway 73.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,317 ft869 ft
Total Climb
259 ft
Total Descent
531 ft
Highest Point
1,317 ft
Elevation Range
449 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 Wheatland, MN, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Cr 2: Elko and New Market.
The longest stretch is about 86.9 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Wheatland, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
