Ely, MN to Lakeville, MN is 269.8 miles and takes about 5h 24m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Minnesota for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good option if you want to get where you're going efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, it's manageable for most drivers.
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
134.9 miles from Ely, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109.7 mi
1h 57m
I 35W
44.3 mi
53m
US 53
42 mi
50m
MN 1
21.5 mi
29m
West Sheridan Street
20.1 mi
28m
MN 33
19.7 mi
26m
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
5.5 mi
7m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109.7 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,678 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,337
Quietest
2 AM
~211 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on MN 1; MN 169
20 mi·28 min·West Sheridan Street
2
Continue on MN 1; MN 169
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Turn straight onto MN 1; MN 169
21 mi·29 min·MN 1; MN 169
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
Continue on MN 169
0.3 mi·21 sec·MN 169
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
6
Merge onto US 53
5.5 mi·7 min·Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 53
4.6 mi·6 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 53
114 ft·1 sec·US 53
9
Continue on US 53
37 mi·43 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto MN 33
15 mi·18 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MN 33
3.9 mi·7 min·MN 33
Use the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
77 ft·1 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
13
Continue on MN 33
0.5 mi·40 sec·MN 33
Toward I 35 South
14
Merge onto I 35
110 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
44 mi·53 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: MinneapolisUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
19
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
20
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
21
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
23
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
24
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid heavier traffic, especially as you near Lakeville. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning one stop around the halfway point can break up the 109.7-mile stretch on I 35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $43, but it's always wise to top off before entering more rural stretches. The consistent highway profile means you'll likely see more services clustered around highway exits rather than scattered widely.
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 134.9 miles from Ely, MN, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.7 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 59 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
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 Ely, 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 Ely, MN
This is one driving day of about 269.8 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Ely, 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 I 35 for about 109.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 43 and 269.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
43 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 53 South: Virginia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 53 South: Virginia
5
43.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
220.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
8
265 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.14 one way
$90.29 round trip
$4.25/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$48.09
$96.17
premium
$5.11
$54.27
$108.54
diesel
$6.28
$66.66
$133.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.33
$12.95
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.79
EV Truck/SUV
107.9
1
$37.77
$17.27
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Oct 24, 2026
Origin
Ely, MN
Late night
in Ely on Saturday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Late night
in Lakeville on Saturday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
35°F
Woodbury, MN
135 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
5 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
5h 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?
This route is predominantly highway, with 88% of the 269.8 miles spent on major roads like I 35. You'll encounter a long stretch of 109.7 miles on I 35, meaning extended periods of consistent cruising. The highway driving continues until you approach the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, where you'll notice an increase in exit density as you transition onto I 35W.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43 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 14 significant decision points across 269.8 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Ely is a town of 3,400 people (2019) in Northeastern Minnesota. Ely is best known as a popular entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the International Wolf Center, and the North American Bear Center.
Top landmarks
•State Theater — movie theater in Ely, Minnesota, United States
•Pioneer Mine — mine in Ely, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 269.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.7 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.8 miles (US 53 / Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lakeville, MN before the return drive.
