Lakeville, MN to Annandale, MN is 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 40m via MN 55 and I-494/I-35W, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, taking you from the southern edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area northwest to the edge of the St. Cloud region. Given that it's a relatively short drive, it's perfect for a same-day excursion, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 55
39 mi
56m
I 494
16.1 mi
20m
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:
MN 55
— 39 mi, about 56m
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 Annandale, 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
10 mi·12 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 22Toward MN 55Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto MN 55
20 mi·29 min·MN 55
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on MN 55
3.9 mi·5 min·MN 55
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on MN 55
1.5 mi·2 min·MN 55
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on MN 55; CR 35
14 mi·19 min·MN 55; CR 35
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto MN 24
389 ft·9 sec·Oak Avenue South
22
Arrive at destination
3 ft·0 sec·MN 24
Trip Plan
For this 72.1-mile trip, leaving mid-morning is a good strategy to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Since the total drive time is under two hours, you likely won't need many, if any, dedicated stops for rest, but there will be ample opportunities for fuel and quick breaks along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, though the estimated $11 fuel cost suggests it's not a major concern. The flexibility of a shorter drive like this means you can depart whenever it's most convenient for you.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.1 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Annandale, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakeville, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeville, MN
This is one driving day of about 72.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lakeville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MN 55 for about 39 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 4.5 and 32.8 — 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
6
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
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
6
15.9 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
7
32.8 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward MN 55
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward MN 55
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.84 one way
$23.67 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$12.66
$25.32
premium
$4.95
$14.05
$28.09
diesel
$5.35
$15.19
$30.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.31
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 May 21, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Evening
in Lakeville on Wednesday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 8:08AM CDT until May 21 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Annandale, MN
Evening
in Annandale on Wednesday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Sunny
SE 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 21 at 8:08AM CDT until May 21 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
66°F
Plymouth, MN
36 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 72.1 miles on interstates or major state routes. You'll encounter a 39-mile stretch on MN 55, which will likely feel like the most extensive segment of continuous cruising. Expect a high density of exits and merging traffic as you navigate the initial section around the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area before transitioning to more open highway driving.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on MN 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 55 and I 494. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 7.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on MN 55. 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 Annandale, 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 7.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Annandale, MN before heading back.
