Origin
Lake City, MN
Afternoon in Lake City on Thursday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake City, MN to Co on Rapids, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
81.6 mi
131 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
13 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake City, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Co on Rapids, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake City, MN to Co on Rapids, MN covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway, US 10, Route 61/Route 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.7 miles on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.14 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.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Lake City, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lake City, MN to Co on Rapids, MN covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 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 24.7 miles in near US 61 / Route 61.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 24.7 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
24.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 61 / Route 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61 / Route 61
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
US 10
Take the exit onto US 10 toward I 35E North, US 10 West
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 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
7
77.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway | 17.7 mi | 21m |
| US 10 | 16 mi | 20m |
| Route 61/Route 63 | 14.8 mi | 19m |
| Route 61 | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| Red Wing Boulevard | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| East River Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| I 94 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Highway 316 Boulevard | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
— 17.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, MN and Co on Rapids, MN.
1
Start on West Chestnut Street
181 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Chestnut Street
2
Turn left onto US 61; US 63
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on US 61; US 63
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Route 61/Route 63
4
Continue on US 61; US 63
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 61
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Route 61
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 61
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Route 61
Use the straight lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Highway 316 Boulevard
8
Continue on MN 316
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 316 Boulevard
9
Continue on MN 316
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Polk Avenue
10
Continue on MN 316
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Red Wing Boulevard
11
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
12
Continue on MN 316
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
14
Continue on MN 316
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
15
Enter roundabout onto MN 316
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
16
Continue on MN 316
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Red Wing Boulevard
17
Turn right onto US 61
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Vermillion Street
18
Continue on US 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
19
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Hastings Road South
20
Continue on US 61
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto US 10; US 61
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 10; US 61
22
Merge onto I 94
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Take the exit onto US 10
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
US 10
Exit 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 10
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 10
10 mi
·
12 min
·
US 10
Exit 113
Toward I 694 West, US 10 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 36
Toward East River Road
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Turn straight onto CR 1
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
East River Road
29
Turn left onto Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
30
Arrive at destination
Mississippi Boulevard Northwest
Trip Plan
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 40.8 miles from Lake City, MN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.7 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 57m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Co on Rapids, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake City, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake City, MN
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lake City, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway for about 17.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.8 mi from Lake City, MN · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Lake City, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Co on Rapids, MN
The final approach into Co on Rapids, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.14 one way
$24.29 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $13.08 | $26.17 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.56 | $29.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.02 | $36.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Oakdale, MN Rechargery Relay @ Hy-Vee - 10th St N
Oakdale, MN
IONNA
12 DCFC
Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger
Oakdale, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Inver Grove Ford - DCFC
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Blink Network
6 DCFC
CircleK - Hastings, MN
Hastings, MN
CIRCLE_K
4 DCFC
Pilot Travel Center 581
Inver Grove Heights, MN
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Ohuta Park
Lake City, MN
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
House Ford
Red Wing, MN
FORD_CHARGE
2 DCFC
Bates & 7th
Saint Paul, MN
ZEFNET
2 DCFC
ZEFNET: 4
ChargePoint Network: 2
Non-Networked: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
CIRCLE_K: 1
eVgo Network: 1
Blink Network: 1
IONNA: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Co on Rapids, MN
Afternoon in Co on Rapids on Thursday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
3 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
1h 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 Lake City, MN to Co on Rapids, MN covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway, US 10, Route 61/Route 63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.8 miles from Lake City, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.14 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 81.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 24.7 miles (US 61 / Route 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles (US 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lake City, MN to Co on Rapids, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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