Origin
Columbia Heights, MN
Morning in Columbia Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia Heights, 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
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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.
Columbia Heights, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 30.6 miles, this trip from Columbia Heights to Lakeville is a straightforward journey through the Minnesota Midwest. You can expect to spend about 39 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, the drive is highly economical for those looking to traverse the region efficiently. You will primarily navigate via University Avenue Northeast and I-35W South to reach your destination. Because the route is short and contained within a single state, it offers a practical way to connect these two communities without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 21.1 mi | 26m |
| Northeast University Avenue | 4.1 mi | 9m |
| 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 |
| University Avenue Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 21.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia Heights, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on MN 47
58 ft
·
8 sec
·
University Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on MN 47
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
University Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on MN 47
4.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Northeast University Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 35W South
5
Merge onto I 35W
21 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
9
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
10
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
11
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Holyoke Avenue
13
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
14
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
207th Street West
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Columbia Heights, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 30.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35W South
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
25.8 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
4
26 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
CR 5 / Kenwood Trail
Turn left onto CR 5 / Kenwood Trail
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
30.6 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
$4.55 one way
$9.11 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.46 | $10.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
8:28 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
2 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. While you will utilize I-35W South, the route maintains a 0% highway share, meaning your time behind the wheel will be defined by local navigation and frequent adjustments. There is no long, monotonous stretch here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on University Avenue Northeast. This keeps the drive engaging as you transition between local roads and the interstate system. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on city streets rather than the passive experience of a long-haul highway trek.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Northeast University Avenue. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 30.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Columbia Heights, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Cr 5
25.8 mi in
|
~37m
Cr 50
25.8 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Columbia Heights, MN
Full guide →Columbia Heights and Fridley are suburbs of Minneapolis located in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30.6 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 (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.1 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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