Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minneapolis, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Minneapolis, MN to Cedar Lake, MN is 35.1 miles and takes about 46m via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short hop within the Midwest region, entirely within Minnesota. The route is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward and quick trip. Given its short duration, it's an ideal option for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 22.9 mi | 27m |
| Lucerne Boulevard | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Panama Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| 217th Street East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| McMahon Lane | 1 mi | 1m |
| 220th Street East | 1 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| MN 65 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Cedar Lake, MN.
Start on CR 152
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Turn left onto South 10th Street
Take the ramp
Continue on MN 65
Merge onto I 35W
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 70
Continue on CR 70
Enter roundabout onto CR 8
Continue on CR 8
Continue on CR 8
Continue on CR 8
Continue on CR 8
Turn left onto CR 23
Turn left onto CR 56
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Minneapolis, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South 10th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I-35W South
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 70: Lakeville, Farmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.56 one way
$11.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $5.92 | $11.84 |
| premium | $4.85 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Minneapolis on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Cedar Lake on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 67% of the 35.1 miles on freeways. You'll experience a solid stretch of 22.9 miles on I 35W. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur around mile 22.9, where Lucerne Boulevard and Panama Avenue will become your guides. Expect a typical highway driving experience with consistent speeds for the majority of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Lucerne Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Avenue South.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (South 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
424 ft
Total Descent
308 ft
Highest Point
1,122 ft
~25.1 mi in
Elevation Range
349 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Minneapolis, MN and Cedar Lake, MN, road signs point toward Cr 70: Lakeville and Farmington.
Cr 70: Lakeville
Farmington
Founded 1850
Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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