Origin
Elk River, MN
Afternoon in Elk River on Sunday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk River, 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
1h 11m
Distance
55.6 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk River, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 55.6-mile drive from Elk River, MN to Lakeville, MN is a straightforward trip, typically taking about 1 hour and 11 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, it's a convenient option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route relies heavily on major interstates, with 86% of the journey on highways, making it a quick transit between these Minnesota communities. Budget around $8 for fuel, which is quite manageable for this relatively short distance. The overall feel is practical and efficient, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 21.9 mi | 27m |
| I 35W | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Kenwood Trail | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Voyageur Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 21.9 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk River, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on Jackson Avenue Northwest
261 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jackson Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto Main Street Northwest
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Main Street Northwest
3
Take the ramp
167 ft
·
5 sec
4
Merge onto US 10
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
Voyageur Highway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto MN 101
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
8
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 494
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
13
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
17
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
18
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
19
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Holyoke Avenue
21
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
22
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
207th Street West
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Elk River, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 55.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MN 101
Merge onto MN 101
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
39.2 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
55.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.27 one way
$16.55 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $8.92 | $17.83 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.92 | $19.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Afternoon in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
29°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 15 mph
9% chance
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
37 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
1h 11m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 55.6-mile route, with 86% of your travel on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.9 miles, primarily on I-494, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. You'll navigate major arteries like I-94, I-494, and I-35W, which means consistent speed limits and multiple lanes. While not a winding scenic byway, this drive prioritizes directness and ease of travel, allowing you to cover ground efficiently between Elk River and Lakeville.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near MN 101.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.6 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 1.3 miles (MN 101): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.2 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elk River, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul, Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Saint Paul
7.9 mi in
|
~10m
Cr 5
50.9 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Cr 50
50.9 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Elk River, MN
Full guide →Elk River is a city in Northwestern 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 1h 11m. Total distance: 55.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on I 494. 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 1.3 miles (MN 101): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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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