Lakeville to Park Rapids is 212.4 miles and takes about 4h 22m via US 10 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mostly highway experience for the majority of the drive. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.2 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
110.8 mi
2h 7m
Jefferson Street North
33.8 mi
48m
I 94
22.6 mi
24m
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
I 35W
8.3 mi
9m
I 35
2.6 mi
2m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 110.8 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,306 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,021
Quietest
2 AM
~244 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 82 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 Park Rapids, 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
16 mi·19 min·I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi·6 min·I 94
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
20
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi·2 min·Pine Street
21
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi·19 sec·State Highway 25
22
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi·53 sec·County Road 11
23
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
24
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
25
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 10
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
38 mi·42 min·US 10
27
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi·9 min·US 10; MN 210
28
Continue on US 10; IC A
9.9 mi·11 min·US 10; IC A
29
Turn right onto US 71
34 mi·48 min·Jefferson Street North
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Enter roundabout onto US 71
132 ft·2 sec·Park Avenue South
31
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Park Avenue South
32
Turn left onto MN 34
42 ft·0 sec·1st Street West
33
Arrive at destination
MN 34
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 22m duration, leaving Lakeville in the morning will allow ample time to reach Park Rapids before dark. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on US 10, as services might be less frequent in some rural areas. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.2 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.8 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 47 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park Rapids, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeville, MN
This is one driving day of about 212.4 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Lakeville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 110.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 38.4 — 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
8
38.4 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.87 one way
$71.75 round trip
$4.29/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.77
$39.88
$79.76
premium
$5.31
$44.37
$88.74
diesel
$6.18
$51.71
$103.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
EV Truck/SUV
85
1
$29.74
$13.59
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Morning
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Park Rapids, MN
Morning
in Park Rapids on Sunday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
SSW 18 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
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
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 primarily on highways, with 78% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 110.8 miles on US 10, which offers a consistent cruising experience. The transition to surface roads, likely Jefferson Street North, will occur around mile 176. Expect a fairly continuous flow of traffic and relatively frequent exit and entry points as you navigate the interstate sections.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.8 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and Jefferson Street North. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 212.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 4h 22m. Total distance: 212.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.8 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas 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 Park Rapids, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Park Rapids, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
