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Trip from Woodbury, MN to Babbitt, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 42m

Distance

125.9 mi

203 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 32m ★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States

Woodbury, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States

Babbitt, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Woodbury, MN to Babbitt, MN covers 125.9 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 53, Highway 21, MN 210 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.7 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

63 miles from Woodbury, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 53 47.7 mi 57m
Highway 21 24.5 mi 33m
MN 210 23.4 mi 28m
MN 33 19.8 mi 26m
State Highway 169 6.1 mi 8m
I 35 1.5 mi 1m
Ely-Babbitt Road 0.7 mi 1m
County Highway 21 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 53 — 47.7 mi, about 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, MN and Babbitt, MN.

1

Start on CR 127

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Gisler Road
2

Turn left onto MN 210

23 mi · 28 min · MN 210
3

Turn left

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 35 North: Duluth Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto I 35

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 35
5

Take the exit onto MN 33

0.6 mi · 58 sec · MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
6

Enter roundabout onto MN 33

127 ft · 1 sec · MN 33
7

Continue on MN 33

19 mi · 25 min · MN 33
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit onto MN 33

0.4 mi · 29 sec · MN 33
9

Merge onto US 53

37 mi · 43 min · US 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Enter roundabout onto US 53

113 ft · 1 sec · US 53
11

Continue on US 53

10 mi · 13 min · US 53
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 43 sec
Toward MN 169: Ely
13

Continue on MN 169

6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14

Turn right onto CH 21

11 mi · 15 min · Highway 21
Use the right lane.
15

Continue on CH 21

0.4 mi · 54 sec · County Highway 21
16

Continue on CH 21

13 mi · 18 min · Highway 21
17

Continue on CH 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Ely-Babbitt Road
18

Continue on CH 70

0.2 mi · 18 sec · County Highway 70
19

Turn right onto Babbitt Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Babbitt Road
20

Turn left onto South Drive

0.3 mi · 45 sec · South Drive
21

Arrive at destination

South Drive

Trip Plan

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 63 miles from Woodbury, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 28 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63 miles or 1h 19m 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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Babbitt, 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 125.9 miles and 2h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 US 53 for about 47.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Eveleth, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eveleth, MN

63 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

Cloquet, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eveleth, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63 miles from Woodbury, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Bearaboo Coffee Escape

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cloquet, Minnesota

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 27

Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm

+12188795051

Kunnari's Kitchen & Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Virginia, Minnesota

1.8 mi

Saigon Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Virginia, Minnesota

1.7 mi

Bearaboo Coffee Escape

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 27

Cloquet, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm

+12188795051

Kunnari's Kitchen & Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.9

Virginia, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+12182488114

Visit website

Saigon Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.9

Virginia, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12187416465

Visit website

Wilbert Cafe & El Toro Lounge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 63

Cotton, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12184823318

Visit website

Streetcar Kitchen & Pub

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 27

Carlton, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12183843333

Visit website

Miigwitches Brew

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 27

Cloquet, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+12189007959

Gas station designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 27

Cloquet, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12188792279

United States Hockey Hall of Fame

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 80.9

Eveleth, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+12187445167

Visit website

Discover the Range

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 80.9

Eveleth, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12187498161

Visit website

Black Bear Golf Course

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 27

Cloquet, Minnesota

+12188782485

Visit website

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 23.6 and 99.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
23.6 mi into trip | ~29m in

Turn left toward I 35 North: Duluth

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 35 North: Duluth
5
25.3 mi into trip | ~31m in | MN 33

Take the exit onto MN 33 toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
5
25.8 mi into trip | ~32m in | MN 33

Enter roundabout onto MN 33

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
45.1 mi into trip | ~58m in | US 53

Merge onto US 53

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
99.4 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | CH 21 / Highway 21

Turn right onto CH 21 / Highway 21

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.74 one way

$37.47 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $20.19 $40.38
premium $4.53 $22.46 $44.93
diesel $5.61 $27.80 $55.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.8 0 $13.22 $6.04
Efficient EV 31.5 0 $11.02 $5.04
EV Truck/SUV 50.4 0 $17.63 $8.06

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Woodbury, MN

Afternoon in Woodbury on Saturday

Local time

1:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Babbitt, MN

Afternoon in Babbitt on Saturday

Local time

1:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

2 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 42m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 125.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and Highway 21. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.7 miles on US 53.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and Highway 21. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 23.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 125.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 23.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles (MN 33): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles (MN 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Woodbury, MN to Babbitt, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.

Iron Range

25.3 mi in | ~31m | via MN 33

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 125.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Woodbury, MN to Babbitt, MN covers 125.9 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 53, Highway 21, MN 210. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 63 miles from Woodbury, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.74 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 23.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles (MN 33): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles (MN 33): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

On the drive from Woodbury, MN to Babbitt, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Iron Range along the way.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Babbitt, MN to Woodbury, MN

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