Lakeville to Corcoran is 41.7 miles and takes about 57 minutes via I 494, I 35W, and MN 55, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick day trip. The route's efficiency means you can easily fit it into a busy schedule without requiring an overnight stay. It’s a practical choice for local travel or a short hop between communities.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 494
16.1 mi
20m
I 35W
8.3 mi
9m
MN 55
5.1 mi
7m
I 35
2.6 mi
2m
County Road 116
1.9 mi
3m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Pinto Drive
1.4 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 16.1 mi, about 20m
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 Corcoran, 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
5.1 mi·7 min·MN 55
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto CR 116
1.4 mi·2 min·Pinto Drive
19
Continue on CR 116
1.9 mi·3 min·County Road 116
20
Turn left onto CR 10
0.2 mi·26 sec·County Road 10
21
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 20.8 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 15
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
$6.26 one way
$12.53 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$6.76
$13.52
premium
$4.60
$7.55
$15.11
diesel
$4.80
$7.87
$15.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.5
0
$4.38
$2.00
Efficient EV
10.4
0
$3.65
$1.67
EV Truck/SUV
16.7
0
$5.84
$2.67
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Afternoon
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Patchy Smoke
SSW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:10AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:28AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Corcoran, MN
Afternoon
in Corcoran on Sunday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Patchy Smoke
SSW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:10AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 3:28AM 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
57m 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 largely highway-focused, with 77% of the journey taking place on major thoroughfares. You'll encounter segments on I 494, I 35W, and MN 55, indicating a consistent pace for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 16.1 miles, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily highway, the transition onto MN 55 might offer a slight change in scenery and speed as you approach your destination. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by efficiency and steady travel.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.1 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 35W. 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
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 15 decision points packed into just 41.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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 57m. Total distance: 41.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.1 miles on I 494. 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 Corcoran, 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 Corcoran, MN before heading back.
