Trip from Afton, MN to Lakeville, MN

Drive Time

52m

Distance

38.4 mi

62 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min

4 AM

0h 48m ★

6 AM

0h 53m

8 AM

1h 1m

10 AM

0h 56m

12 PM

0h 55m

3 PM

0h 56m

5 PM

1h 1m

8 PM

0h 50m

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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Afton, MN

Tom Fisk

Lakeville, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition across the Twin Cities metro area, the 38.4-mile trip from Afton to Lakeville is an efficient choice. Expect to spend about 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via Bailey Road, I-494, and I-35E to complete the journey. With a fuel budget of roughly $5, it is a very economical drive through the heart of the Midwest. Because the route is short and straightforward, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. It is an ideal connection if you need to travel between these two Minnesota communities without committing to a full day of travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

19.2 miles from Afton, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that balances local roads with major interstate transit. You will spend about 45% of your time on highways, transitioning from the quieter outskirts into the flow of metropolitan traffic. The longest uninterrupted section occurs on I-35E, where you can settle in for a 13.7-mile stretch of steady driving. As you move from the initial local roads onto the larger thoroughfares, the pace of the trip shifts noticeably. This route is functional rather than scenic, providing a direct link that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 35E is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in near I 494.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 38.4 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 15.3 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

15.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 494

Keep slight left at fork onto I 494

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

18.9 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul

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 70 Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Sa...

19.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Albert Lea

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea

33.6 mi into trip | ~44m 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

38.4 mi into trip | ~52m in | 207th Street West

Turn left onto 207th Street West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Afton, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul, Cr 5 and Cr 50.

Saint Paul

18.9 mi in | ~27m

Cr 5

33.6 mi in | ~44m

Cr 50

33.6 mi in | ~44m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 35E	13.7 mi	14m
Bailey Road	7.2 mi	10m
I 494	3.7 mi	4m
Wakota Bridge	3.1 mi	3m
40th Street South	2.4 mi	3m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway	2.2 mi	3m
Afton Boulevard	1.8 mi	2m
Kenwood Trail	1.3 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 35E — 13.7 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Afton, MN and Lakeville, MN.

Start on CH 18

1.8 mi · 2 min · Afton Boulevard

Continue on CH 18

2.4 mi · 3 min · 40th Street South

Continue on CH 18

2.0 mi · 2 min · Bailey Road

Enter roundabout onto CH 18

124 ft · 2 sec · Bailey Road

Continue on CH 18

2.0 mi · 2 min · Bailey Road

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto CH 18

122 ft · 2 sec · Bailey Road

Continue on CH 18

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bailey Road

Enter roundabout onto CH 18

146 ft · 2 sec · Bailey Road

Continue on CH 18

2.2 mi · 3 min · Bailey Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CH 18

0.5 mi · 1 min · Maxwell Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 494 West

Continue on Wakota Bridge

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Wakota Bridge

Toward I 494 West Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 494

2.9 mi · 3 min · Wakota Bridge

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 494

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 494

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 70 Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

14 mi · 14 min · I 35E

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Exit 85 Toward CR 5, CR 50 Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto CR 5

1.3 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail

Use the left / straight lanes.

Enter roundabout onto CR 5

127 ft · 2 sec · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

Continue on CR 5

2.2 mi · 3 min · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on CR 5

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

Continue on CR 50

0.5 mi · 48 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue

12 ft · 0 sec · Holyoke Avenue

Continue on Holyoke Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Holyoke Avenue

Turn left onto 207th Street West

22 ft · 0 sec · 207th Street West

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

207th Street West

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short 52-minute trip, you do not need to worry about planning complex rest stops. I recommend checking local traffic reports before you leave, as the highway-heavy nature of the route means you could encounter congestion on I-494 or I-35E depending on the time of day. With no mandatory stops required, you can easily complete the entire distance in one go. Keep your fuel level in check, though at a $5 estimated cost, it is a low-impact expense for your vehicle. Use the flexibility of this short duration to time your departure outside of peak rush hours to ensure the smoothest possible experience on the road.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 19.2 miles from Afton, MN, or about 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.7 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 38.4 miles or 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 19.2 miles or 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeville, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Afton, 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 Afton, MN

This is one driving day of about 38.4 miles and 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Afton, MN.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 13.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.2 mi from Afton, MN · 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Paul, MN

19 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

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Paul, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Afton, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lakeville, MN

The final approach into Lakeville, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lakeville, MN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.49 one way

$10.98 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.92	$5.93	$11.86
premium	$4.39	$6.64	$13.28
diesel	$5.64	$8.53	$17.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.5	$4.03	$1.84
Efficient EV	9.6	$3.36	$1.54
EV Truck/SUV	15.4	$5.38	$2.46

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Afton, MN

Afternoon in Afton on Sunday

Local time

4:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeville, MN

Afternoon in Lakeville on Sunday

Local time

4:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

52m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Afton, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 38.4 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35E, Bailey Road, I 494. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 19.2 miles from Afton, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Between Afton, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul, Cr 5 and Cr 50.

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Trip from Afton, MN to Lakeville, MN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Lakeville, MN

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Afton, MN

Lakeville, MN

Same local time

Very similar conditions

52m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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