Minneapolis, MN to Lakewood, MN is 163.1 miles and takes about 3h 8m via I 35/I 35W/MN 61, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a straightforward drive. It's a single-day trip primarily on major highways, so you can expect a generally efficient transit. If you're looking for a quick hop between two points in the same state without much fuss, this route fits the bill.
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
81.6 miles from Minneapolis, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
127.3 mi
2h 19m
I 35W
27.8 mi
31m
MN 61
6.3 mi
12m
Washington Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Lakewood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Superior Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 127.3 mi, about 2h 19m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,150 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,607
Quietest
2 AM
~100 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Minneapolis, MN and Lakewood, MN.
1
Start on CR 152
63 ft·9 sec·Washington Avenue South
2
Continue on CR 152
0.9 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue South
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 35W North
4
Merge onto I 35W
3.7 mi·4 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 22BToward MN 36Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35W
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 35W
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
7.1 mi·8 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
127 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 35
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward MN 61 North
11
Merge onto MN 61
6.3 mi·12 min·MN 61
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn sharp right onto Lakewood Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Lakewood Road
13
Turn sharp left onto East Superior Street
35 ft·1 sec·East Superior Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Superior Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this is easily a same-day trip from Minneapolis to Lakewood. For the most relaxed drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour traffic in the Minneapolis area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $27, you won't need to over-plan for your journey. The longest continuous stretch is over 127 miles, so make sure you're fueled up and comfortable before embarking on that portion. Keep an eye on your GPS as you get closer to Lakewood, as the highway portion will eventually end.
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 81.6 miles from Minneapolis, MN, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.3 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 33m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis, MN
This is one driving day of about 163.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Minneapolis, 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 I 35 for about 127.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 163.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 35W North
7
4.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward MN 36
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward MN 36
6
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.5 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
163.1 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|East Superior Street
Turn sharp left onto East Superior Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.44 one way
$54.88 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.55
$59.10
premium
$5.04
$32.34
$64.67
diesel
$5.64
$36.21
$72.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.9
0
$17.13
$7.83
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
EV Truck/SUV
65.2
0
$22.83
$10.44
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Minneapolis, MN
Night
in Minneapolis on Friday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood, MN
Night
in Lakewood on Friday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
37 degrees cooler 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 almost entirely on highways, with 99% of the 163.1 miles being high-speed cruising. You'll experience a 127.3-mile stretch on I 35, which means you'll be on major interstates for the vast majority of your travel. Expect to see many exits and merges as you navigate the highway system for most of the trip before eventually transitioning off. The driving will feel consistent until the final miles.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 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 12 significant decision points across 163.1 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Minneapolis Institute of Art — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
•Walker Art Center — contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
•Weisman Art Museum — art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 163.1 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 (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.3 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lakewood, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lakewood, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
