Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
202 mi
325 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Grand Rapids, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 202 miles and takes about 3h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Pokegama Avenue, Voyageur Highway, 2nd Street Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.38 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
101 miles from Grand Rapids, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 28m drive with frequent turns across 202 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Pokegama Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Voyageur Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Minnesota Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 169 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| POW/MIA Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Rapids, MN and Lakeville, MN.
Start on Northwest 5th Street
Turn right onto North Pokegama Avenue
Continue on Voyageur Highway
Turn left
Keep slight right
Merge slight right onto Voyageur Highway
Continue on 2nd Street Northeast
Turn left onto Minnesota Avenue North
Continue on US Highway 169
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward US Highway 169
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 169
Continue on Central Avenue
Continue on US Highway 169
Keep slight right to continue on US Highway 169
Continue on POW/MIA Memorial Highway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Continue on I 35W South: Albert Lea
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward CR 5, CR 50
Turn left onto Kenwood Trail
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Continue on Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Continue on 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 202nd Street West
Exit the rotary onto Holyoke Avenue
Turn left onto 207th Street West
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeville, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MN
This is one driving day of about 202 miles and 3h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101 mi from Grand Rapids, MN · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 101 miles from Grand Rapids, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$28.38 one way
$56.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $31.18 | $62.37 |
| premium | $4.39 | $34.93 | $69.86 |
| diesel | $4.86 | $38.68 | $77.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.21 | $9.70 |
| Efficient EV | 50.5 | 0 | $17.67 | $8.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.8 | 1 | $28.28 | $12.93 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Grand Rapids on Saturday
Local time
9:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Lakeville on Saturday
Local time
9:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Big Lake, MN
101 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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