Origin
Elk River, MN
Evening in Elk River on Friday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk River, MN to Woodbury, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
121.7 mi
196 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk River, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Woodbury, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 121.7-mile drive from Elk River to Woodbury, Minnesota, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 27 minutes. With 98% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal day trip without the need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, which is quite manageable for a trip of this length. You'll primarily be navigating on MN 23 and MN 27, with a significant portion on US Highway 169, keeping you on well-maintained roads for the bulk of your travel. This Midwest route is best suited for those looking for a practical connection between two Minnesota communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.9 miles from Elk River, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 121.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 98% of your travel occurring on well-established highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 37.8 miles on MN 23, offering a good period of consistent driving. While the majority of the journey utilizes major roadways like US Highway 169, the inclusion of MN 23 and MN 27 means you'll experience a consistent, efficient drive. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct and practical connection designed for smooth progress, minimizing distractions and maximizing your time on the road.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MN 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 23 and MN 27. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 26.5 miles (US 169 / US Highway 169): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 33.2 miles (MN 23): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street Northwest
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
26.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 169 / US Highway 169
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169 / US Highway 169
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
33.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
MN 23
Turn right onto MN 23
Navigation decision point
4
51.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
MN 23; MN 65
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
Navigation decision point
4
104.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
MN 210 / State Highway 210
Turn right onto MN 210 / State Highway 210
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 23 | 37.8 mi | 45m |
| MN 27 | 33.6 mi | 42m |
| US Highway 169 | 31.9 mi | 36m |
| State Highway 210 | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Tamarack Boulevard West | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Gisler Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 23
— 37.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk River, MN and Woodbury, MN.
1
Start on Jackson Avenue Northwest
261 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jackson Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street Northwest
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
4
Merge onto US 169
26 mi
·
29 min
·
US Highway 169
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 169
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
7
Turn right onto MN 23
18 mi
·
20 min
·
MN 23
8
Turn left onto MN 23; MN 65
20 mi
·
24 min
·
MN 23; MN 65
9
Continue on MN 27; MN 65
34 mi
·
42 min
·
MN 27; MN 65
10
Turn right onto MN 210
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 210
11
Continue on MN 210
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Tamarack Boulevard West
12
Continue on MN 210
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 210
13
Turn left onto CR 127
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Gisler Road
14
Arrive at destination
CR 127
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 27 minutes for this 121.7-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon should help you avoid the heaviest traffic. With no designated stops in the data, consider planning one brief break around the halfway point, perhaps after you've covered the 37.8-mile stretch on MN 23. The estimated fuel cost of $18 is quite low, so you won't need to worry too much about refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank in Elk River to ensure a seamless journey to Woodbury.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.9 miles from Elk River, MN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.9 miles or 1h 11m 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
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 Elk River, 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 Elk River, MN
This is one driving day of about 121.7 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Elk River, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MN 23 for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.9 mi from Elk River, MN · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.9 miles from Elk River, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Woodbury, MN
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.11 one way
$36.22 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $19.52 | $39.03 |
| premium | $4.53 | $21.71 | $43.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.87 | $53.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.78 | $5.84 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Woodbury, MN
Evening in Woodbury on Friday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
2h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elk River, MN to Woodbury, MN covers 121.7 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MN 23, MN 27, US Highway 169. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.9 miles from Elk River, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 26.5 miles (US 169 / US Highway 169): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 33.2 miles (MN 23): Navigation decision point.
The route from Elk River, MN to Woodbury, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Woodbury, MN
More from Elk River, MN
More trips to Woodbury, MN
Explore more options from Elk River, MN or browse trips ending in Woodbury, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.