Traveling from Detroit Lakes to Lakeville covers 222.6 miles of Minnesota landscape, typically taking about 4 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward trek across the Midwest, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $32 for fuel to complete the journey. The route utilizes a mix of West Mason Avenue, US 10, and I-494 to navigate from the lake country toward the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. It is an efficient path that balances local road travel with the speed of the interstate system, making it a functional choice for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.3 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Mason Avenue
78.4 mi
1h 29m
US 10
70.5 mi
1h 21m
I 494
21.9 mi
27m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
I 35W
11.1 mi
12m
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.3 mi
8m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
West Mason Avenue
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit Lakes, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CR 22
0.1 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 10
44 mi·50 min·US 10
3
Enter roundabout
103 ft·1 sec
4
Continue
66 ft·0 sec
5
Turn straight onto US 10
7.3 mi·8 min·Ash Avenue Northwest
6
Continue on US 10
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·West Mason Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
8
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
10
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
11
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
12
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
14
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 494
22 mi·27 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
21
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi·12 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
25
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
26
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
27
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
29
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
30
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4 hours and 24 minutes of travel time. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid potential traffic congestion as you merge onto I-494 near the end of your trip. Since your fuel costs are estimated at $32, it is wise to fill up before leaving Detroit Lakes to avoid fluctuating prices along the highway. Given the 78.4-mile stretch on West Mason Avenue, ensure your vehicle is prepped for a long, steady pull before you depart. Flexibility is a major advantage on this route, so take advantage of the single-day timeframe to adjust your departure based on local weather or traffic reports.
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 111.3 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 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 3h 32m
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 Detroit Lakes, 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 Detroit Lakes, MN
This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Detroit Lakes, 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 West Mason Avenue for about 78.4 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 44.5 and 222.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
44.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m 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
206.2 mi into trip|~4h 1m 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
217.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
222.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.13 one way
$66.25 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$35.69
$71.39
premium
$4.53
$39.72
$79.43
diesel
$5.61
$49.15
$98.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.48
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.16
$14.25
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Detroit Lakes, MN
Evening
in Detroit Lakes on Saturday
Local time
8:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Evening
in Lakeville on Saturday
Local time
8:32 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
19 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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 mixed driving experience as you transition between road types throughout the 222.6-mile journey. With a 56% highway share, the trip balances stretches of open roadway with local navigation. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment early on, covering 78.4 miles along West Mason Avenue. As you move from US 10 onto the busier sections of I-494, the character of the road shifts from regional transit to a more high-traffic suburban corridor. This transition requires you to adjust your pace as you leave the quieter northern reaches and approach the density of the Lakeville area.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on West Mason Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 44.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 222.6 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 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 222.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue. 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 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Lakeville, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
