Traveling from Cross Lake to Lakeville covers 168.1 miles of Minnesota landscape, typically requiring about 3 hours and 1 minute of driving time. Because this route avoids major interstates entirely, you should budget approximately $24 for fuel to complete the journey. It is a straightforward trip that functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless you prefer a slower pace. You will navigate primarily via County Road 3, County Road 11, and West Main Street throughout the Midwest. Expect a steady, local-focused experience rather than a high-speed transit, as the path relies on secondary roads to reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.8 miles from Cross Lake, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 169
73.3 mi
1h 23m
I 494
21.9 mi
27m
County Road 11
14.5 mi
19m
MN 6
14.1 mi
24m
I 35W
11.1 mi
12m
I 94
8.3 mi
9m
MN 101
6.9 mi
8m
State Highway 18
4.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 169
— 73.3 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cross Lake, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CH 3; IC C
3.2 mi·4 min·County Road 11
2
Keep slight right at fork onto CH 3; IC C
341 ft·5 sec·County Road 3
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 11
213 ft·4 sec·County Road 11
4
Continue on CR 11
3.6 mi·4 min·County Road 11
5
Continue on CR 11
7.7 mi·10 min·County Road 11
6
Turn right onto MN 6
4.7 mi·8 min·MN 6
7
Turn left onto MN 6; MN 210
1.1 mi·1 min·West Main Street
8
Enter roundabout onto MN 6; MN 210
110 ft·1 sec·Voyageur Highway
9
Continue on MN 6; MN 210
2.3 mi·2 min·Voyageur Highway
10
Continue on MN 6; MN 210
0.7 mi·50 sec·Archibald Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto MN 6; MN 210
0.4 mi·29 sec·East Front Street
12
Turn right onto MN 6
9.4 mi·16 min·MN 6
13
Turn left onto MN 18
4.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 18
14
Turn straight onto US 169; MN 18
37 mi·42 min·US Highway 169
15
Continue on US 169
2.3 mi·2 min·Central Avenue
16
Continue on US 169
9.5 mi·10 min·US Highway 169
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 169
26 mi·30 min·US Highway 169
18
Continue on US 169
383 ft·4 sec·POW/MIA Memorial Highway
19
Continue on MN 101
6.9 mi·8 min·MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
21
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi·9 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 494
22 mi·27 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
26
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi·12 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
30
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
31
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
32
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
34
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
35
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
Given the 168.1-mile distance, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and keep your focus sharp on the winding local roads. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, as the lack of highway stretches means your average speed will remain lower than a typical interstate trip. Since this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your GPS is updated and clear before you depart from Cross Lake. You have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace, but remember that the constant turns make the 3-hour drive feel more active than a straight highway haul. Keep your $24 fuel budget in mind, and prioritize a mid-trip break to manage the technical nature of the drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.8 miles from Cross Lake, MN, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.3 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 37 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.8 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
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 Cross Lake, 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 Cross Lake, MN
This is one driving day of about 167.7 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Cross Lake, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 169 for about 73.3 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 3.2 and 167.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.2 mi into trip|~4m in|CR 11 / County Road 11
Enter roundabout onto CR 11 / County Road 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
151.3 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
167.7 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.96 one way
$49.91 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$26.89
$53.78
premium
$4.53
$29.92
$59.84
diesel
$5.61
$37.03
$74.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
Efficient EV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
EV Truck/SUV
67.1
0
$23.48
$10.73
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Cross Lake, MN
Night
in Cross Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Night
in Lakeville on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
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
8 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
3h 32m 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?
This journey offers a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, you will stay off major thoroughfares and instead navigate a series of interconnected local roads. You will find that there is no single long stretch of road, as the longest uninterrupted segment on County Road 3 is 0 miles, indicating frequent transitions and turns. The personality of this drive is intimate and precise, favoring careful navigation over cruising speed. Shifting from the quiet stretches near Cross Lake toward the environment of Lakeville keeps the experience engaging as you wind through the local grid.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.3 mi on US Highway 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 169 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near CR 11 / County Road 11.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 167.7 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 3.2 miles (CR 11 / County Road 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Cross Lake, MN to Lakeville, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
120 mi in|~2h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 167.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.3 miles on US Highway 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (CR 11 / County Road 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 128.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Lakeville, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
