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Trip from Lakeville, MN to Mora, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

94.5 mi

152 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States

Lakeville, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Kanabec County, Minnesota, United States

Mora, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Lakeville, MN to Mora, MN is 94.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m via Central Avenue Northeast and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area into a more rural setting as you head north. The route offers a straightforward connection, primarily using major roadways for most of the drive. Given its short duration, this is a very manageable day trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

47.3 miles from Lakeville, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Central Avenue Northeast 54.1 mi 1h 6m
I 35W 29.4 mi 37m
US 10 2.8 mi 3m
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: Central Avenue Northeast — 54.1 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lakeville, MN and Mora, 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 North Use 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

16 mi · 20 min · I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W

5.6 mi · 7 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec
Exit 22B Toward MN 36 Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto I 35W

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 35W
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

2.8 mi · 3 min · US 10
Toward US 10 West Use the slight right lane.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward MN 65: Central Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork

222 ft · 6 sec
19

Turn right onto MN 65

54 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
20

Turn left onto CR 6

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Forest Avenue East
21

Turn right onto South Vine Street

476 ft · 20 sec · South Vine Street
22

Arrive at destination

North Vine Street

Trip Plan

For this 1h 59m drive, you can easily leave any time of day and complete it before sunset. Since the total mileage is under 100 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $14, and there are 0 listed stops, so be prepared to fuel up before you leave Lakeville or know where the next available station is along your path. The flexibility of this shorter route means you can depart on your own schedule and still arrive with plenty of time.

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 47.3 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 21 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mora, 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 94.5 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lakeville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Central Avenue Northeast for about 54.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Roseville, MN

47 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

Minneapolis, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ham Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.3 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 37 — 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.
6
23.7 mi into trip | ~31m in | I 35W

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29.3 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward MN 36

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22B Toward MN 36
7
37 mi into trip | ~48m in | US 10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 10 West

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.06 one way

$28.13 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $15.15 $30.31
premium $4.53 $16.86 $33.72
diesel $5.61 $20.86 $41.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.3 0 $9.92 $4.54
Efficient EV 23.6 0 $8.27 $3.78
EV Truck/SUV 37.8 0 $13.23 $6.05

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Lakeville, MN

Late night in Lakeville on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mora, MN

Late night in Mora on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

42°F

Roseville, MN

47 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 59m 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 drive is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 37% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 54.1 miles on Central Avenue Northeast before transitioning to I 35W. Expect to see more exits and merges as you navigate through the initial urban and suburban areas before the landscape opens up.

37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on Central Avenue Northeast.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 23.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 94.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on Central Avenue Northeast. 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 Mora, 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 23.7 miles (I 35W): 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 Mora, 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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