Trip from Cottonwood, MN to Woodbury, MN

Drive Time

4h 5m

Distance

236.5 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Cottonwood, MN to Woodbury, MN covers 236.5 miles and takes about 4h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Barstad Road, 390th Street, Highway 23 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.23 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

118.2 miles from Cottonwood, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 5m drive with frequent turns across 236.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Barstad Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Barstad Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
390th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 23	Unavailable	Refreshing
10th Avenue South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Division Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
1st Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
2nd Street South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Granite City Crossing	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Barstad Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Main Street

2

Turn left onto Barstad Road

3

Turn right onto 390th Street

4

Turn left onto State Highway 23

5

Turn right

6

Turn left

7

Turn left onto 10th Avenue South

8

Turn right onto Division Street

9

Continue on 1st Street

10

Continue on Division Street

11

Continue on 2nd Street South

12

Continue on Granite City Crossing

13

Continue on 3rd Street Southeast

14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

15

Exit the roundabout

16

Turn left

17

Continue straight

18

Turn right onto State Highway 210

19

Continue on Tamarack Boulevard West

20

Continue on State Highway 210

21

Turn left onto Gisler Road

22

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 118.2 miles from Cottonwood, MN, or about 2h 2m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 118.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodbury, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cottonwood, MN

This is one driving day of about 236.5 miles and 4h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cottonwood, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Avon, MN

118 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Woodbury, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Woodbury, MN.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 118.2 mi from Cottonwood, MN

Avon, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avon, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 118.2 miles from Cottonwood, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.57	$33.23	$66.46
midgrade	$3.92	$36.51	$73.02
premium	$4.39	$40.89	$81.79
diesel	$4.86	$45.29	$90.58

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cottonwood, MN to Woodbury, MN covers 236.5 miles and takes about 4h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Barstad Road, 390th Street, Highway 23. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 118.2 miles from Cottonwood, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

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