If you are planning a trip from Lakeville to Albertville, you are looking at a straightforward 53.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. Because this route is entirely contained within the Midwest, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your commute or weekend travel. Navigating primarily via I-35W, I-494, and I-94, you will find this is a highly efficient connection between these two Minnesota communities. It is a no-nonsense route that prioritizes speed and directness over leisure, making it ideal for when you simply need to get from point A to point B.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
I 94
13.9 mi
15m
I 35W
8.3 mi
9m
I 35
2.6 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail
1.2 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
0.7 mi
1m
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 21.7 mi, about 27m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 25 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,290 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 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 Lakeville, MN and Albertville, MN.
1
Start on 207th Street West
22 ft·5 sec·207th Street West
2
Turn right onto Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 50
198 ft·3 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
4
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·50 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
5
Continue on CR 5
0.7 mi·1 min·Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
6
Continue on CR 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
7
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
125 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail
8
Continue on CR 5
1.2 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 35 NorthUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 35
2.6 mi·2 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
8.3 mi·9 min·I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 8B-CToward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
14
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi·7 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi·19 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 94
14 mi·15 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 202-201Toward CR 37, CR 137, CR 19: AlbertvilleUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 202Toward CR 37, CR 137Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 137
523 ft·9 sec·60th Street Northeast
21
Continue on CR 37
0.2 mi·30 sec·61st Street Northeast
22
Turn left onto Main Avenue Northeast
192 ft·6 sec·Main Avenue Northeast
23
Turn right onto 60th Street Northeast
205 ft·14 sec·60th Street Northeast
24
Turn left
85 ft·6 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Lakeville, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 53.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35 North
8
15.6 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
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 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
38.4 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
52.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward CR 37, CR 137, CR 19: Albertville
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 202-201
Toward CR 37, CR 137, CR 19: Albertville
10
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 37, CR 137
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 202
Toward CR 37, CR 137
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.83 one way
$17.67 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$9.45
$18.89
premium
$4.95
$10.48
$20.96
diesel
$5.35
$11.33
$22.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.1
0
$5.65
$2.58
Efficient EV
13.5
0
$4.71
$2.15
EV Truck/SUV
21.5
0
$7.53
$3.44
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Afternoon
in Lakeville on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:32AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 5:02AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Albertville, MN
Afternoon
in Albertville on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:32AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 5:02AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
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
1 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
1h 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of your time spent on major interstates. You will spend the bulk of your effort navigating the metropolitan highway system, which offers a consistent, fast-paced experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during your 21.7-mile run on I-494, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. While the route lacks the winding character of rural backroads, the transition between the three primary interstates provides a functional flow through the region. Prepare for a standard interstate experience that demands your attention to traffic patterns rather than scenic detours.
86% 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: 21.7 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m 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 21.7 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Albertville, 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 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 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 Albertville, MN before heading back.
