Trip from Cross Lake, MN to Lakeville, MN

Drive Time

3h 1m

Distance

168.1 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Cross Lake, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on County Road 3, County Road 11, West Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.62 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

84.1 miles from Cross Lake, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 1m drive with frequent turns across 168.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

County Road 3 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
County Road 3	0 mi	0m
County Road 11	0 mi	0m
West Main Street	0 mi	0m
Voyageur Highway	0 mi	0m
Archibald Road	0 mi	0m
East Front Street	0 mi	0m
Highway 18	0 mi	0m
Highway 169	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: County Road 3 — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on County Road 11

2

Keep slight right to continue on County Road 3

3

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Road 11

4

Exit the roundabout onto County Road 11

5

Continue on County Road 11

6

Turn right

7

Turn left onto West Main Street

8

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Voyageur Highway

9

Exit the roundabout onto Voyageur Highway

10

Continue on Archibald Road

11

At the end of the road, turn left onto East Front Street

12

Turn right

13

Turn left onto State Highway 18

14

Turn straight onto US Highway 169

15

Continue on Central Avenue

16

Continue on US Highway 169

17

Keep slight right to continue on US Highway 169

18

Continue on POW/MIA Memorial Highway

19

Continue straight

20

Take the exit slight right toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul

21

Merge slight left

22

Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South

23

Continue straight

24

Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

25

Continue on I 35W South: Albert Lea

26

Merge slight left

27

Take the exit slight right toward CR 5, CR 50

28

Turn left onto Kenwood Trail

29

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

30

Exit the roundabout onto Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

31

Continue on Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

32

Continue on 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

33

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 202nd Street West

34

Exit the rotary onto Holyoke Avenue

35

Turn left onto 207th Street West

36

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 84.1 miles from Cross Lake, MN.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 84.1 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Cross Lake, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cross Lake, MN

This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 3h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cross Lake, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Big Lake, MN

84 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.1 mi from Cross Lake, MN

Braham, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.1 miles from Cross Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.57	$23.62	$47.24
midgrade	$3.92	$25.95	$51.90
premium	$4.39	$29.07	$58.13
diesel	$4.86	$32.19	$64.38

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cross Lake, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are County Road 3, County Road 11, West Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 84.1 miles from Cross Lake, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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