Origin
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Morning in Inver Grove Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inver Grove Heights, 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
32m
Distance
23.2 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Inver Grove Heights to Lakeville is 23.2 miles and takes about 32 minutes via I 35E, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward trip entirely within Minnesota, connecting two Midwest communities. Given its brief duration, it's ideal for a quick commute or an easy add-on to another journey. You'll primarily be on interstate highway, making for efficient travel between these Twin Cities suburbs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| 70th Street East | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| 70th Street West | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Lone Oak Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Holyoke Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 12.5 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inver Grove Heights, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CH 26
24 ft
·
9 sec
·
70th Street East
2
Continue on CH 26
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
70th Street East
Use the straight lane.
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 26
126 ft
·
2 sec
·
70th Street West
4
Continue on CH 26
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
70th Street West
5
Enter roundabout onto CH 26
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
70th Street West
6
Continue on CH 26
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street West
7
Continue on CH 26
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lone Oak Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 35E South
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35E
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
13
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
14
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
15
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Holyoke Avenue
17
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
18
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
207th Street West
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 26 / 70th Street East
Continue onto CH 26 / 70th Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Turn left toward I 35E South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 35E South
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.4 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
23.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.45 one way
$6.91 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.14 | $8.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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
2 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 54% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 12.5 miles on I 35E, which provides a more continuous, faster-paced journey. As you transition to roads like Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway and 70th Street East, the drive may become more varied, potentially including more local traffic and intersections. Expect a blend of efficient highway cruising and more typical suburban road conditions.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 early in the drive near CH 26 / 70th Street East.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 23.2 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: near the start (CH 26 / 70th Street East): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Inver Grove Heights, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Cr 5
18.4 mi in
|
~23m
Cr 50
18.4 mi in
|
~23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on I 35E. 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: near the start (CH 26 / 70th Street East): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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