Origin
Lake Elmo, MN
Late night in Lake Elmo on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Elmo, MN to Minnetonka, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
38.2 mi
62 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Elmo, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Minnetonka, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 38.2 miles across the Minnesota landscape, this drive from Lake Elmo to Minnetonka is an efficient trip that typically takes about 55 minutes. Because the duration is quite short, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $5 for fuel should cover your needs for this trek through the Midwest. You will primarily navigate a combination of MN 36, I-35W, and Minnesota State Highway 7. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two points, making it a highly practical option for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| I 35W | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| 34th Street North | 3 mi | 4m |
| Stillwater Boulevard North | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| MN 55 | 2 mi | 2m |
| I 394 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Division Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
MN 36
— 10.6 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Elmo, MN and Minnetonka, MN.
1
Start on CH 17
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Elmo Avenue North
2
At end of road, turn left onto CH 14; CH 17
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Stillwater Boulevard North
3
Enter roundabout onto CH 14
146 ft
·
3 sec
·
34th Street North
4
Continue on CH 14
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
34th Street North
5
At end of road, turn right onto MN 120
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Century Avenue North
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on MN 120
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn sharp left onto MN 36
11 mi
·
13 min
·
MN 36
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 35W
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West: 11th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
133 ft
·
2 sec
Exit 17B
Toward I 35W South, I 94 West: 11th Avenue
11
Keep slight right at fork
417 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West: 11th Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West
Use the slight left lane.
13
Continue on MN 55
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 55
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West, MN 55 West
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 394
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
Exit 5B-A
Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward MN 100 South: Park Place-Xenia
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward MN 100 South
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
402 ft
·
9 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward MN 100 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward MN 100 South
Use the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto MN 100
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward MN 7 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto MN 7
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn left onto CR 101
239 ft
·
10 sec
·
County Road 101
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
CR 101
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Lake Elmo, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 27.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MN 120 / Century Avenue North
At end of road, turn right onto MN 120 / Century Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
22.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: 11th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West: 11th Avenue
9
22.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 17B
Toward I 94 West
8
25 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 394 West, US 12 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 231A
Toward I 394 West, US 12 West
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia
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 5B-A
Toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-X...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.68 one way
$11.37 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.13 | $12.25 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.82 | $13.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.43 | $16.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Minnetonka, MN
Late night in Minnetonka on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
18 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
55m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself cruising along a variety of thoroughfares, shifting between the flow of MN 36, the arterial movement of I-35W, and the transition onto Minnesota State Highway 7. Expect a steady pace throughout the 55-minute duration, punctuated by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 10.6 miles on MN 36. The personality of the road is functional and direct, designed to move you efficiently through the region rather than providing a winding, slow-paced experience. Behind the wheel, you will notice a consistent rhythm as you transition between these major state and interstate routes.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.6 mi on MN 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and Minnesota State Highway 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near MN 120 / Century Avenue North.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 22 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles (MN 120 / Century Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 38.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.6 miles on MN 36. 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 Minnetonka, 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 5.7 miles (MN 120 / Century Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minnetonka, 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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