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Trip from Lakeville, MN to Saint Louis Park, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

37m

Distance

26.1 mi

42 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 34m ★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States

Lakeville, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Saint Louis Park, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are traveling from Lakeville to Saint Louis Park, you are looking at a straightforward 26.1-mile transit across Minnesota. This highway-focused drive typically takes about 37 minutes, making it a quick and efficient trip that is easily completed in a single day. With a fuel cost estimate of $4, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. Whether you are heading out for work or visiting family, this route is designed for speed rather than a leisurely pace. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, ensuring a predictable experience.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35W 8.3 mi 9m
MN 100 6.1 mi 7m
I 35 2.6 mi 2m
I 494 2 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
Longest stretch: I 35W — 8.3 mi, about 9m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 25 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,290 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~243 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 34 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 Saint Louis Park, 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 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-C Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East Use 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

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 7A Toward MN 100 Use the slight right lane.
16

Merge onto MN 100

5.8 mi · 7 min · MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward CR 5: Minnetonka Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Turn left onto CR 5

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Minnetonka Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
19

Turn right onto Vernon Avenue South

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Vernon Avenue South
20

Turn right onto 28th Street West

360 ft · 20 sec · 28th Street West
21

Turn left onto Utica Avenue South

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Utica Avenue South
22

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward South Highway 100
23

Merge onto MN 100

0.3 mi · 24 sec · MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Arrive at destination

MN 100

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 18.6 — 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
7
18.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward MN 100

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 7A Toward MN 100

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.28 one way

$8.57 round trip

$4.17/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $4.58 $9.17
premium $4.95 $5.08 $10.17
diesel $5.35 $5.50 $10.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.8 0 $2.74 $1.25
Efficient EV 6.5 0 $2.28 $1.04
EV Truck/SUV 10.4 0 $3.65 $1.67

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jun 2, 2026

Origin

Lakeville, MN

Afternoon in Lakeville on Wednesday

Local time

4:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

SE 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:32AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 5:02AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Saint Louis Park, MN

Afternoon in Saint Louis Park on Wednesday

Local time

4:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Sunny

SSE 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:32AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 5:02AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

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

37m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a high-speed commute, as this route is comprised of 73% highway driving. You will navigate a combination of I-35, I-35W, and MN-100, which keeps the flow of traffic moving steadily throughout the journey. The longest stretch of uninterrupted driving occurs over 8.3 miles on I-35W, allowing you to settle into a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the character of the road remains largely utilitarian and fast-paced. Do not look for winding backroads here; instead, prepare for a functional, direct path that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

73% 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: 8.3 mi on I 35W.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and MN 100. 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 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 26.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,083 ft 716 ft

Total Climb

379 ft

Total Descent

460 ft

Highest Point

1,083 ft

~3.3 mi in

Elevation Range

367 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Lakeville, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1850

Arriving in Saint Louis Park, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1852

St. Louis Park is a western suburb of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States.

Top landmarks

  • • Peavey–Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator — United States historic place
  • • Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot — railway station in St. Louis Park, the United States of America

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.3 miles on I 35W. 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 Saint Louis Park, 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 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Louis Park, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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