Origin
Lakeville, MN
Morning in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeville, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
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
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 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 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-B
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 99A
Toward I 494 East
Use 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 52B
Toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Use 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
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 175 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
$6.77 one way
$13.54 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.30 | $14.59 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Oak Park Heights, MN
Morning in Oak Park Heights on Sunday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 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 Effort
9/10
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
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.
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.
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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