This straightforward 73.2-mile drive from Cokato to Lakeville, MN, is easily managed in about 1 hour and 21 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via Cokato Street East and US 12, with a stretch on 60th Street Southwest. With zero highway driving, expect a more local feel throughout the journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, so it's an economical option for a quick getaway. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent regional experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Cokato, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
13.9 mi
19m
I 494
13.3 mi
16m
Babcock Boulevard
13.2 mi
17m
I 35W
11.1 mi
12m
Babcock Boulevard West
3.9 mi
5m
60th Street Southwest
3.5 mi
4m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Kenwood Trail
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 13.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cokato, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CR 3
0.3 mi·34 sec·Broadway Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 12
0.5 mi·37 sec·Cokato Street East
3
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi·2 min·US 12
4
Continue on US 12
3.5 mi·4 min·60th Street Southwest
5
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·2 min·6th Street
6
Continue on US 12
4.1 mi·5 min·US 12
7
Continue on US 12
0.7 mi·1 min·Pacific Avenue
8
Continue on US 12
1.9 mi·2 min·US 12
9
Continue on US 12
1.1 mi·2 min·Nelson Boulevard
10
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi·3 min·US 12; MN 25
11
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·19 sec·60th Street Southeast
12
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi·5 min·US 12
13
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi·5 min·Babcock Boulevard West
14
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft·1 sec·Babcock Boulevard
15
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi·2 min·Babcock Boulevard
16
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft·1 sec·Babcock Boulevard
17
Continue on US 12
11 mi·14 min·Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 1A-BToward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner RoadUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 494Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 494
13 mi·16 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
24
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi·12 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
26
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
28
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
29
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
30
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
32
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
33
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
34
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
Given the 73.2-mile distance and 1 hour 21-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single day. You can depart Cokato, MN, at your leisure, as there's no need to break up the journey. With no major highway stretches, keep an eye out for local traffic and varying speed limits on roads like US 12. The $10 fuel cost suggests you won't need frequent gas stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The flexibility of this short drive means you can easily adjust your departure and arrival times based on your schedule.
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 34.7 miles from Cokato, MN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.9 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 49m 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 20m
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 Cokato, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cokato, MN
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Cokato, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 13.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 38.4 and 64.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
38.4 mi into trip|~54m 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
38.6 mi into trip|~54m 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
39 mi into trip|~55m 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
52.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
$10.31 one way
$20.63 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$11.11
$22.23
premium
$4.53
$12.36
$24.73
diesel
$5.61
$15.30
$30.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cokato, MN
Late night
in Cokato on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Late night
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Medina, MN
35 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
1h 35m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this route. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't experience any high-speed interstate cruising. The roads themselves, including Cokato Street East, US 12, and 60th Street Southwest, will likely involve more frequent turns and changes in speed limits. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, the nature of local roads means you'll be actively engaged with the driving, making the 1 hour and 21-minute duration feel dynamic.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 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 38.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Cokato, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Cr 5
64.5 mi in|~1h 27m
Cr 50
64.5 mi in|~1h 27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 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.
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 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39 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.
