Albany, MN to Lakeville, MN is 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m via I 94, I 494, and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a very direct trip, primarily on major interstate highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently. Expect a consistent driving experience without significant deviations from the main roads. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Albany, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 109.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion on I 94, including a longest stretch of 69.9 miles without needing to exit. The character is predominantly fast-paced interstate travel, designed for efficient transit rather than leisurely sightseeing. Expect the drive to remain consistent as you navigate through I 494 and I 35W, maintaining highway speeds for the majority of the trip. It's a predictable and direct path.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 69.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
93 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
8
104.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
6
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|207th Street West
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
69.9 mi
1h 15m
I 494
21.9 mi
27m
I 35W
11.1 mi
12m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
3m
Kenwood Trail
1.3 mi
2m
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
8th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 69.9 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, MN and Lakeville, MN.
1
Start on MN 238
0.2 mi·26 sec·Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto MN 238
0.3 mi·38 sec·8th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
4
Merge onto I 94
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 494
22 mi·27 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert LeaUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·50 sec·this road
Exit 5BToward I 35W South: Albert Lea
9
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi·12 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 85Toward CR 5, CR 50Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 5
1.3 mi·2 min·Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
127 ft·2 sec·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
13
Continue on CR 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
14
Continue on CR 5
0.1 mi·16 sec·Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
15
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi·48 sec·202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·Holyoke Avenue
17
Continue on Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Holyoke Avenue
18
Turn left onto 207th Street West
22 ft·0 sec·207th Street West
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
207th Street West
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of around 2 hours and 7 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. You could easily leave in the morning and arrive before lunch, or head out in the afternoon and be at your destination with plenty of evening hours to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical trip, so you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. A good tip for this route is to be mindful of traffic, especially as you approach the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area on I 494 and I 35W; leaving during off-peak hours can make the final leg smoother.
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 54.7 miles from Albany, MN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.9 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 40m
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 Albany, 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 Albany, MN
This is one driving day of about 109.4 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Albany, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 69.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.7 mi from Albany, MN
· 59m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.57
$4.38
EV Truck/SUV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Albany, MN
Evening
in Albany on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeville, MN
Evening
in Lakeville on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Albertville, MN
55 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
21 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
2h 7m 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 Albany, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 494, I 35W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.7 miles from Albany, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.28 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Albany, MN to Lakeville, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
