Traveling from Atwater to Lakeville covers 101.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like Minnesota Avenue, Main Street North, and Pleasant Avenue East. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This is an straightforward, manageable trek that offers a practical way to connect these two Minnesota locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.9 miles from Atwater, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
15.9 mi
21m
I 494
13.3 mi
16m
Babcock Boulevard
13.2 mi
17m
Pleasant Avenue East
12.8 mi
17m
East Depot Street
11.8 mi
13m
I 35W
11.1 mi
12m
Babcock Boulevard West
3.9 mi
5m
60th Street Southwest
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 15.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atwater, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue
154 ft·11 sec·Minnesota Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 2
144 ft·6 sec·Main Street North
4
Turn right onto US 12
13 mi·17 min·Pleasant Avenue East
5
Continue on US 12; MN 22
0.9 mi·2 min·North Sibley Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 12
12 mi·13 min·East Depot Street
7
Continue on US 12
2.0 mi·2 min·US 12
8
Continue on US 12
2.7 mi·3 min·50th Street Southwest
9
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi·1 min·Cokato Street West
10
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi·2 min·US 12
11
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi·4 min·60th Street Southwest
12
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·2 min·6th Street
13
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi·5 min·US 12
14
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi·1 min·Pacific Avenue
15
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi·2 min·US 12
16
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi·2 min·Nelson Boulevard
17
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi·3 min·US 12; MN 25
18
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·19 sec·60th Street Southeast
19
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi·5 min·US 12
20
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi·5 min·Babcock Boulevard West
21
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft·1 sec·Babcock Boulevard
22
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi·2 min·Babcock Boulevard
23
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft·1 sec·Babcock Boulevard
24
Continue on US 12
11 mi·14 min·Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 1A-BToward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner RoadUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 494Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 494
13 mi·16 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
31
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi·12 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
33
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
35
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
36
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
37
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
39
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
40
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
41
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, but hitting the road mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. With zero planned stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 101.9-mile distance in one go, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $15 estimated cost. Because the route is entirely comprised of local roads, ensure your navigation system is updated to handle the frequent turns along Minnesota Avenue and Main Street North. Taking a moment to map out your specific turns before you leave Atwater will make your arrival in Lakeville much smoother. Use the freedom of this short travel time to adjust your schedule to whatever works best for your personal itinerary.
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 49.9 miles from Atwater, MN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.9 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
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 Atwater, 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 Atwater, MN
This is one driving day of about 99.9 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Atwater, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 15.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.9 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
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 1A-B
Toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
7
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494
7
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 South
7
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
95.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.87 one way
$29.73 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$16.02
$32.04
premium
$4.53
$17.82
$35.65
diesel
$5.61
$22.06
$44.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.49
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.74
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$13.99
$6.39
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Atwater, MN
Morning
in Atwater on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Morning
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Medina, MN
50 mi in
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route relies entirely on local roads, requiring your full attention as you navigate through various turns. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the journey maintains a steady, localized pace from start to finish. You will find that the road surface and surroundings reflect a typical Midwestern local transit experience. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the lack of major highways means you will be relying on local signage and thoroughfares for the duration of your 101.9-mile trip.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 99.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 68.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 99.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on US 12. 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 68.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
