Traveling from Detroit Lakes to Minnetonka covers 198.4 miles of Minnesota landscape, typically taking about 3 hours and 52 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is relatively straightforward, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $28 on fuel for the journey, making this an economical excursion within the Midwest. You will primarily utilize West Mason Avenue, US 10, and I-94 to navigate between these two points. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, this route offers a reliable connection that fits perfectly into a weekend schedule or a quick midweek trip.
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
99.2 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Mason Avenue
78.4 mi
1h 29m
US 10
70.5 mi
1h 21m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
I 494
11.1 mi
13m
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.3 mi
8m
Minnesota State Highway 7
2.4 mi
3m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 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 Minnetonka, 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
11 mi·13 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 16BToward MN 7 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto MN 7
2.4 mi·3 min·Minnesota State Highway 7
21
Turn left onto CR 101
239 ft·10 sec·County Road 101
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
CR 101
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one stop will help you break up the nearly four-hour journey and keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the initial 78.4-mile stretch on West Mason Avenue is the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. If you want to avoid peak traffic, try to time your arrival in the Minnetonka area to steer clear of typical rush hour congestion. Utilizing that single planned stop effectively will make the transition from the longer local road segments to the faster interstate sections much more comfortable.
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 99.2 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN, or about 1h 54m 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.2 miles or 1h 54m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minnetonka, 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 198.4 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 195.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 10
Turn right onto US 10
Navigation decision point
5
44.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
162.7 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16B
Toward MN 7 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.53 one way
$59.05 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$31.81
$63.63
premium
$4.53
$35.40
$70.80
diesel
$5.61
$43.80
$87.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.5
0
$20.83
$9.52
Efficient EV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.94
EV Truck/SUV
79.4
0
$27.78
$12.70
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Detroit Lakes, MN
Late night
in Detroit Lakes on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minnetonka, MN
Late night
in Minnetonka on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Little Falls, MN
99 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
17 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
3h 52m 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 drive features a mixed profile that transitions from local roads to major thoroughfares. You will spend 53% of your journey on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs right at the start, where you will spend 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue. As you move from the initial local stretches onto the larger interstate system, the character of the drive shifts from quieter roads to the more structured flow of I-94. Be prepared for this variation, as the transition between road types defines the overall rhythm of your time behind the wheel.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort5/10
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 198.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (US 10): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 162.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 198.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 10): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 162.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Minnetonka, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
