Lakeville, MN to Rush City, MN is 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m via I 35E and I 35, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, traveling north through the Midwest. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll find the route efficient for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, making it a practical choice for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35E
42.4 mi
50m
I 35
30.1 mi
32m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Kenwood Trail
1.2 mi
2m
West 4th Street
1.1 mi
2m
I 694
0.8 mi
<1m
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:
I 35E
— 42.4 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,652 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~226 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Rush City, 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
16 mi·18 min·I 35E
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
2.7 mi·4 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
0.4 mi·35 sec·I 35E
14
Merge onto I 35E; I 94
350 ft·5 sec·Purple Heart Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit onto I 35E
5.2 mi·6 min·I 35E
Exit 242BToward I 35E North, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 10
Exit 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·35 sec
Exit 114Toward I 35E North, I 694 EastUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi·59 sec·I 694
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
18 mi·19 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E North: DuluthUse the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
27 mi·29 min·I 35
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward CR 1: Rush City
22
Turn right onto West 4th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·West 4th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto South Eliot Avenue
277 ft·12 sec·South Eliot Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
South Eliot Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of time. Since the drive is under 2 hours and has a low fuel cost of around $12, you likely won't need to stop for gas unless your tank is very low. Plan for an early departure to maximize your time at your destination, or consider a mid-afternoon start to avoid any potential rush hour traffic leaving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
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 40.1 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.4 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 51m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rush City, 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 80.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lakeville, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 42.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 33.3 — 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
8
26.6 mi into trip|~35m in|I 35E
Take the exit onto I 35E toward I 35E North, US 10 West
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 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
31.8 mi into trip|~41m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
32.1 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
7
33.3 mi into trip|~43m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E North: Duluth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35E North: Duluth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.06 one way
$24.12 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$13.02
$26.04
premium
$4.60
$14.55
$29.09
diesel
$4.80
$15.16
$30.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Late night
in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 8:34AM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 13 at 2:42AM CDT until July 13 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Rush City, MN
Late night
in Rush City on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 8:34AM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 13 at 2:42AM CDT until July 13 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth 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
6 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
1h 36m 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?
Expect to spend most of your time on the interstate, with 92% of the route utilizing highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 42.4 miles on I 35E. You'll transition from I 35E to I 35, with some sections on Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway. The drive features a largely uninterrupted highway profile, so expect to encounter a steady stream of exits and merges.
92% 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: 42.4 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and I 35. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.3 miles you will encounter 19 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 26.6 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.8 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,000 ft792 ft
Total Climb
195 ft
Total Descent
247 ft
Highest Point
1,000 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
208 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 36m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.4 miles on I 35E. 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 Rush City, 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 26.6 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.8 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rush City, MN before heading back.
