Origin
Lakeville, MN
Late night in Lakeville on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Mora, MN
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeville, MN and Mora, MN.
Start on 207th Street West
Turn right onto Holyoke Avenue
Enter roundabout onto CR 50
Continue on CR 50
Continue on CR 5
Continue on CR 5
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
Continue on CR 5
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto MN 65
Turn left onto CR 6
Turn right onto South Vine Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.06 one way
$28.13 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lakeville on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Mora on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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