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Trip from Albany, MN to Lakeville, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 7m

Distance

109.4 mi

176 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 58m ★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m

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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Downtown Albany, MN, MN

Albany, MN

Tom Fisk

city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States

Lakeville, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Albany, MN to Lakeville, MN is 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m via I 94, I 494, and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a very direct trip, primarily on major interstate highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently. Expect a consistent driving experience without significant deviations from the main roads. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

54.7 miles from Albany, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 69.9 mi 1h 15m
I 494 21.9 mi 27m
I 35W 11.1 mi 12m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway 2.2 mi 3m
Kenwood Trail 1.3 mi 2m
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway 0.5 mi <1m
Holyoke Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
8th Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 69.9 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Albany, MN and Lakeville, MN.

1

Start on MN 238

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Railroad Avenue
2

Turn left onto MN 238

0.3 mi · 38 sec · 8th Street
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
4

Merge onto I 94

70 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Exit 216 Toward I 494 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 494

22 mi · 27 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 50 sec · this road
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
9

Merge onto I 35W

11 mi · 12 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 85 Toward CR 5, CR 50 Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto CR 5

1.3 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Enter roundabout onto CR 5

127 ft · 2 sec · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
13

Continue on CR 5

2.2 mi · 3 min · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
14

Continue on CR 5

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
15

Continue on CR 50

0.5 mi · 48 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue

12 ft · 0 sec · Holyoke Avenue
17

Continue on Holyoke Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Holyoke Avenue
18

Turn left onto 207th Street West

22 ft · 0 sec · 207th Street West
Use the left lane.
19

Arrive at destination

207th Street West

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of around 2 hours and 7 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. You could easily leave in the morning and arrive before lunch, or head out in the afternoon and be at your destination with plenty of evening hours to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical trip, so you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. A good tip for this route is to be mindful of traffic, especially as you approach the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area on I 494 and I 35W; leaving during off-peak hours can make the final leg smoother.

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 54.7 miles from Albany, MN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.9 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 24 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 54.7 miles or 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 40m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, MN

This is one driving day of about 109.4 miles and 2h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Albany, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 69.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Otsego, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Otsego, MN

55 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

Saint Cloud, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albertville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.7 miles from Albany, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.9 miles.

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

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rogers, Minnesota

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 62.5

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Osseo, Minnesota

2.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Mill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Albany, Minnesota

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13208456455

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

St Cloud, Minnesota

1.8 mi

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 62.5

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 70.3

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

Nawal Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 101.6

Burnsville, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19524566701

Green Mill Restaurant & Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 109.4

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19524358100

Visit website

Sovereign Grounds

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.8

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+16128256157

Visit website

The Mill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Albany, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13208456455

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 23.4

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Munkabeans Coffeehouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86

Hopkins, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19529389056

Visit website

Constellation Coffee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 101.6

Apple Valley, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19529525448

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 70.3

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Missing Pieces Escape Games

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.8

Edina, Minnesota

Hours: 12–7:30 pm

+19526588974

Visit website

Wild Things Indoor Playground

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 109.4

Lakeville, Minnesota

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19529608796

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 23.4

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Splash Valley Water Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 101.6

Apple Valley, Minnesota

+19529532300

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 109.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

7
70.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 494 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 216 Toward I 494 South
7
93 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
8
104.7 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in

Take the exit toward CR 5, CR 50

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 85 Toward CR 5, CR 50
6
109.4 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in | 207th Street West

Turn left onto 207th Street West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.28 one way

$32.56 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $17.54 $35.09
premium $4.53 $19.52 $39.04
diesel $5.61 $24.15 $48.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.8 0 $11.49 $5.25
Efficient EV 27.4 0 $9.57 $4.38
EV Truck/SUV 43.8 0 $15.32 $7.00

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 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 16, 2026

Origin

Albany, MN

Morning in Albany on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeville, MN

Morning in Lakeville on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

21 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 7m 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 route is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion on I 94, including a longest stretch of 69.9 miles without needing to exit. The character is predominantly fast-paced interstate travel, designed for efficient transit rather than leisurely sightseeing. Expect the drive to remain consistent as you navigate through I 494 and I 35W, maintaining highway speeds for the majority of the trip. It's a predictable and direct path.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.9 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 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 109.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 109.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 69.9 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lakeville, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakeville, MN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.

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