Detroit Lakes, MN Road Trips
Drivers starting from Detroit Lakes, MN have 4 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 202-mile quick runs to 223-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Detroit Lakes, MN head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
222.6 mi
Lakeville, MN
Quickest Drive
3h 58m
Eden Prairie, MN
Plan Around Detroit Lakes, MN
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Detroit Lakes, MN is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Detroit Lakes, MN
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Detroit Lakes, MN
Driving from Detroit Lakes, MN
The typical drive from Detroit Lakes, MN covers about 212 miles and takes around 4h 11m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 223 miles (4h 24m), while the shortest is just 202 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Detroit Lakes, MN are Lakeville, MN (222.6 mi, 4h 24m), Eagan, MN (216.5 mi, 4h 17m), Saint Paul, MN (209.2 mi, 4h 5m), and Eden Prairie, MN (201.5 mi, 3h 58m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in MN currently averages around $3.57 per gallon. For the typical 212-mile trip from Detroit Lakes, MN, budget about $30 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Detroit Lakes, MN and 2 routes heading into Detroit Lakes, MN, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 202 to 223 miles.
The longest mapped route from Detroit Lakes, MN covers 223 miles and takes approximately 4h 24m. Shorter options start at just 202 miles.
The average route from Detroit Lakes, MN runs about 212 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 11m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.57/gallon for regular), the average 212-mile trip from Detroit Lakes, MN costs roughly $30 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Detroit Lakes, MN include Lakeville, MN, Eagan, MN, Saint Paul, MN and Eden Prairie, MN. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Detroit Lakes, MN by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
10,002
Median Income
$62,123
Median Home Value
$246,200
Median Age
41.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Detroit Lakes, MN at a Glance
Founded
1871
Elevation
1,368 ft
Area
15 mi²
Notable People from Detroit Lakes, MN
A sampling of people born in Detroit Lakes, MN.
Dave Reichert
1950
former United States Representative from Washington
Adam Thielen
1990
American football player (born 1990)
Janet Benshoof
1947–2017
American lawyer (1947-2017)
Jeff Johnson
1966
American politician from Hennepin County, Minnesota
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Detroit Lakes, MN.
Detroit Lakes
railway station
City data from Wikidata (Q1898538), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Detroit Lakes, MN
Detroit Lakes is a city in Minnesota.
Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting many tourists and seasonal residents each year. Its economy is fueled by seasonal population increases, with tourism being the area's chief industry along with agriculture.
Becker County Museum, 714 Summit Ave, ☏ +1 218 847-2938. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Historical museum and research library.
WE Fest. Annual country music festival held in August.
The Fireside, 1462 E Shore Dr, ☏ +1 218 847-8192. Sandbar II, 1150 Randolph Rd, ☏ +1 218 846-1779. M-Sa 11AM-2AM. Zorbaz on the Lake, 402 W Lake Dr, ☏ +1 218 847-5305. 10AM-2AM daily. Mexican and pizza.
Bucks Mills Brewing, a small brewery connected to Washington Square Mall, a friendly atmosphere with activities like board games, events, trivia. Bring your own food. Lakeside Tavern, 200 W Lake Dr, ☏ +1 218 847-1891. Lakeside is an amazing place to eat. It is family friendly, and you can also drink there. It is better than Zorbaz, by a long shot. There is pizza with home-made crust, burgers, wings, nachos and appetizers.
Best Western Premier The Lodge on Lake Detroit, 1200 E Shore Dr, ☏ +1 218 847-8439, toll-free: +1-800-761-8439. $119+. AmericInn Lodge & Suites, 777 Highway 10 East, ☏ +1 218-847-8795, toll-free: +1-877-847-8795, [email protected]. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 11:00 AM. (updated May 2015)
U.S. Highways 10 and 59, MN Highway 34 1 Detroit Lakes station, 116 Pioneer Street. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping at Detroit Lakes: Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. Jefferson Lines has a bus stop in Detroit Lakes.
Travel tips adapted from Detroit Lakes on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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