Lakeville to Sylvan is 154.9 miles and takes about 3 hours 8 minutes via US 10, MN 371, and I-94, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest route stays entirely within Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive. With over 90% of the trip on highways, it's a quick connection between two points. The estimated fuel cost is modest, making it an economical choice for a single-day trip. Plan for a relatively short driving time, allowing for flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.5 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
54.4 mi
1h 3m
MN 371
25.8 mi
29m
I 94
22.6 mi
24m
I 494
21.7 mi
27m
I 35W
8.3 mi
9m
State Highway 210
5.8 mi
7m
I 35
2.6 mi
2m
Highland Scenic Drive South
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Sylvan, 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 right at fork onto MN 371
26 mi·29 min·MN 371
27
Turn left onto CR 48
0.3 mi·29 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
28
Enter roundabout onto CR 48
221 ft·7 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
29
Continue on CR 48
1.6 mi·2 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
30
At end of road, turn left onto MN 210
5.8 mi·7 min·State Highway 210
31
Arrive at destination
MN 210
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 3 hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Sylvan without feeling rushed, and it also allows for potential stops along the way. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before starting the longest stretch of 54.4 miles on US 10, as services can be more spread out on highway segments.
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 77.5 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 34 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.5 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sylvan, 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 154.9 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 54.4 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 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
$25.43 one way
$50.86 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$27.20
$54.40
premium
$4.95
$30.18
$60.35
diesel
$5.35
$32.63
$65.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.5
0
$16.26
$7.44
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
EV Truck/SUV
62
0
$21.69
$9.91
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 1, 2026
Origin
Lakeville, MN
Afternoon
in Lakeville on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 12:01PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Sylvan, MN
Afternoon
in Sylvan on Wednesday
Local time
2:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 12:01PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
65°F
Albertville, MN
77 mi in
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
2 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
3h 8m 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 highway driving, with 91% of the 154.9 miles on major roads like US 10 and I-94. You'll experience rural cruising for the longest stretch of 54.4 miles on US 10. Expect to transition to surface roads for the final portion of your drive as the highway segments conclude. The majority of your time will be spent on high-speed routes.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 154.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,209 ft719 ft
Total Climb
531 ft
Total Descent
293 ft
Highest Point
1,209 ft
~154.9 mi in
Elevation Range
490 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 3h 8m. Total distance: 154.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 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 Sylvan, 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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Sylvan, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
