Lakeville to Oak Park Heights is 45.5 miles and takes about 1 hour via I 494, I 35E, and MN 36, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a quick trip that won't eat up your entire day. It's a practical option for a short relocation or a quick visit between these two areas.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 494
12.1 mi
15m
I 35E
10.9 mi
11m
MN 36
7.4 mi
9m
I 694
5.4 mi
6m
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
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 12.1 mi, about 15m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,163 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 35 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 Oak Park Heights, 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 right at fork onto I 35E
11 mi·11 min·I 35E
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 99A-BToward I 494 West, I 494 East
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 99AToward I 494 EastUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 494
12 mi·15 min·I 494
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on I 694
5.4 mi·6 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 52BToward MN 36 East: StillwaterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto MN 36
7.4 mi·9 min·MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto CH 24
0.1 mi·20 sec·Osgood Avenue North
19
Turn left onto CH 26
0.1 mi·19 sec·59th Street North
20
Continue on CH 26
0.6 mi·1 min·60th Street North (South Frontage Road)
21
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
0.2 mi·54 sec·Penrose Avenue North
22
Turn left onto 57th Street North
72 ft·4 sec·57th Street North
23
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 36.5 — 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 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
18.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, I 494 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99A-B
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
8
18.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99A
Toward I 494 East
7
36.5 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52B
Toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.83 one way
$13.67 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$7.38
$14.76
premium
$4.60
$8.24
$16.48
diesel
$4.80
$8.59
$17.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.7
0
$4.78
$2.18
Efficient EV
11.4
0
$3.98
$1.82
EV Truck/SUV
18.2
0
$6.37
$2.91
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 9, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Afternoon
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Patchy Fog
0 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:44PM CDT until July 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:35PM CDT until July 10 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Oak Park Heights, MN
Afternoon
in Oak Park Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Rain Showers then Patchy Fog
0 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:44PM CDT until July 9 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 8 at 8:35PM CDT until July 10 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 494 and I 35E. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 12.1 miles on I 494. While largely interstate, the final leg on MN 36 might feel a bit more like a state highway as you approach your destination. The character is primarily about efficient travel between points.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35E. 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 45.5 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 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,082 ft757 ft
Total Climb
510 ft
Total Descent
695 ft
Highest Point
1,082 ft
~3.3 mi in
Elevation Range
325 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Oak Park Heights, 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 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oak Park Heights, MN before heading back.
