Origin
Saint Francis, MN
Late night in Saint Francis on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Francis, MN to Lakeville, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Francis, MN
Tom Fisk
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Saint Francis, MN to Lakeville, MN is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I-35W, I-94, and US-10, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving south from the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick relocation or a visit between these two areas. You'll find the route is mostly urban and suburban driving, so expect moderate traffic, especially during peak hours. Planning for this relatively short distance means you have flexibility with your departure time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 19 mi | 23m |
| I 94 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| US 10 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| 7th Avenue Northwest | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Rum River Boulevard Northwest | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| MN 252 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Rum River Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 19 mi, about 23m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,742 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~332 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 40 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 Saint Francis, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on CR 24
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bridge Street Northwest
2
Turn left onto CR 24
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Ambassador Boulevard Northwest
3
Continue on CR 24
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Rum River Boulevard Northwest
4
Enter roundabout onto CR 7
122 ft
·
2 sec
·
Rum River Boulevard
5
Continue on CR 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Rum River Boulevard
6
Continue on CR 7
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Roanoke Street Northwest
7
Continue on CR 7
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
165th Avenue Northwest
8
Continue on CR 7
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
7th Avenue Northwest
9
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 10 East, MN 47 South
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto US 10; MN 47
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 10; MN 47
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 47
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 47
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward MN 610: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto MN 610
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
MN-610
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9
Toward MN 252 South: Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on MN 252
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 252
Use the left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis
17
Merge onto I 94
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 233B
Toward I 35W South
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto MN 65
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I-35W South
21
Merge onto I 35W
19 mi
·
23 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
25
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
26
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
27
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Holyoke Avenue
29
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
30
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
207th Street West
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Saint Francis, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 13.7 and 55 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Turn left toward US 10 East, MN 47 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 10 East, MN 47 South
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
MN 47
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 47
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
22.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward MN 252 South: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward MN 252 South: Minneapolis
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 233B
Toward I 35W South
8
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward CR 5, CR 50
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 85
Toward CR 5, CR 50
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.47 one way
$18.94 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $10.08 | $20.17 |
| premium | $4.85 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Late night in Lakeville on Friday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 65% of the driving on major interstates like I-35W and I-94. You'll experience a longest stretch of 19 miles on I-35W, which is primarily highway cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur gradually as you approach your destination, marked by increasing exit density and lower speed limits. Expect to encounter urban merging patterns as you navigate through the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area.
65% 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: 19 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 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 13.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (MN 47): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Francis, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.
Cr 5
55 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Cr 50
55 mi in
|
~1h 13m
About the Cities
Starting in Saint Francis, MN
Full guide →Arriving in Lakeville, MN
Full guide →Founded 1850
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 1h 21m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19 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 Lakeville, 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 13.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (MN 47): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakeville, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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