Origin
Arden Hills, MN
Morning in Arden Hills on Sunday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arden Hills, 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
45m
Distance
34.1 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arden Hills, MN
Tom Fisk
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 34.1 miles across the Minnesota Midwest, this direct route connects Arden Hills to Lakeville in about 45 minutes. It serves as an efficient, highway-focused drive that is easily completed within a single day. You will spend roughly $5 on fuel for this commute, making it a very affordable trip. Given the short duration, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick visit, this path provides a straightforward link between the two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 25 mi | 31m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Snelling Avenue North | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| MN 36 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Hamline Avenue North | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Holyoke Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 25 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arden Hills, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CH 15
442 ft
·
21 sec
·
West County Road E
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward MN 51 South
3
Merge onto MN 51
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Hamline Avenue North
4
Continue on MN 51
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Snelling Avenue North
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto MN 36
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 36
7
Merge onto I 35W
25 mi
·
31 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
11
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
12
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
13
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Holyoke Avenue
15
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
16
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
207th Street West
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Arden Hills, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward MN 51 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward MN 51 South
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MN 36 West: Minneapolis
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
34.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.07 one way
$10.15 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.47 | $10.94 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.08 | $12.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Lakeville, MN
Morning in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
27 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
45m 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?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 77% of the journey is spent on highways. The route utilizes I-35W, Snelling Avenue North, and Kenwood Trail to move you quickly toward your destination. You will settle into your longest uninterrupted stretch of 25 miles while navigating I-35W, which accounts for the bulk of your time behind the wheel. The transition from the Arden Hills area into the flow of the interstate defines the character of this drive, shifting from local roads to a more fast-paced highway environment.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 34.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arden Hills, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Cr 5
29.4 mi in
|
~37m
Cr 50
29.4 mi in
|
~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 34.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25 miles on I 35W. 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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