How far is Ely, MN from Woodbury, MN?

The driving distance from Ely, MN to Woodbury, MN is about 136.5 miles (219.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 98.9 miles (159.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
136.47 mi
02h 20m
Flight
98.87 mi
159.12 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ely.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
98.87 mi
Kilometers
159.12 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
136.47 mi
Kilometers
219.63 km
Drive Time
02h 20m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Woodbury
Thu, Sep 17, 5:10 PM CDT
Return by in Ely
Thu, Sep 17, 7:31 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ely
2026-09-17T14:49
Arrive Woodbury
Thu, Sep 17, 5:10 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ely
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cotton
MN

Unincorporated community in St.

From Ely
68.1 mi
01h 10m
To Woodbury
68.4 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Sep 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Sep 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ely and Woodbury.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ely and Woodbury.

  1. 1

    Start on West Sheridan Street

    20.1 mi · 29 min · West Sheridan Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    21.5 mi · 29 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    3038 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    1664 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.6 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    35 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    37.3 mi · 43 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    15.3 mi · 19 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    3.9 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South

    24 m · 1 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South

    2829 ft · 40 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MN 210: Carlton, Cromwell

    1556 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right

    23.3 mi · 29 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Gisler Road

    1011 ft · 28 sec · Gisler Road

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gisler Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ely and Woodbury.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 49%
West Sheridan Street
20.1 mi · 15%
I 35 South
2.02 mi · 1%
Main Street
1.42 mi · 1%
US 53 South
0.89 mi · 1%
MN 210
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

Exit the roundabout

37.3 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.6 mi
98.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cotton
01h 10m from Ely
Leave By
1:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ely and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Woodbury.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ely to Woodbury?

The road trip is about 136.5 miles (219.6 km) and usually takes 02h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cotton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 68.1 miles from Ely and 68.4 miles from Woodbury.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 98.9 miles (159.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.42 one way or $40.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ely and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Woodbury.

Stop Ideas Near Cotton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cotton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cotton.

BUS

Duluth (University of Minnesota), Minnesota

50 mi away
175 Kirby Student Union
BUS

Duluth (Greyhound Station), Minnesota

52 mi away
4426 Grand Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ely and Woodbury. Straight-line distance: 98.87 mi (159.12 km).

Ely

#1 Ely

City in Minnesota, United States

Population3,325
Coordinates47.9032400, -91.8670900
Altitude436
CountryUnited States
Woodbury

#2 Woodbury

The most populous city in Washington County, Minnesota.

Population74,255
Coordinates46.6791100, -92.9599300
Altitude402
CountryUnited States
Start: MN 1 (-91.86709, 47.903279)
End: Gisler Road (-92.959817, 46.679111)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 220 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.82 gal
18.23 L · about $20.42
Round trip
$40.84
9.64 gal · 36.46 L
Estimated CO2
42.8 kg one way
Round trip: 85.7 kg / 189 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.24 $20.42 $40.84
Mid-grade $4.69 $22.60 $45.20
Premium $5.20 $25.06 $50.12
Diesel $6.18 $29.80 $59.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · Sep 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Ely and Woodbury. The current time is 14:49:35.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.