Origin
Lakeville, MN
Evening in Lakeville on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeville, MN to Columbia Heights, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
46m
Distance
29.8 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia Heights, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 29.8-mile drive from Lakeville, MN to Columbia Heights, MN is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 46 minutes. It's an ideal option for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays and keeping your estimated fuel cost at a manageable $4. The route primarily utilizes major interstates, offering a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Minnesota communities within the Midwest region. Given its short distance and direct path, this trip is perfect for a quick commute or a simple point-to-point drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
14.9 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for this drive, with 66% of the route on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on I 35W, including a continuous stretch of 16.4 miles. The drive transitions between different interstate segments and key arterial roads like Southeast University Avenue, maintaining a relatively fast pace throughout. The profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than scenic detours, making it a functional drive for getting from point A to point B.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 16.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Southeast University Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 29.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 35 North
6
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MN 65
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65 toward I 94 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West
8
24.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 11th Street, East Grant Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 11th Street, East Grant Street
7
24.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 11th Street, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 11th Street, Minneapolis Community and T...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakeville, MN to Columbia Heights, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis Community And Technical College along the way.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College
24.4 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| Southeast University Avenue | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| I 35 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 16.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeville, MN and Columbia Heights, MN.
1
Start on 207th Street West
22 ft
·
5 sec
·
207th Street West
2
Turn right onto Holyoke Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holyoke Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 50
198 ft
·
3 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
4
Continue on CR 50
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
5
Continue on CR 5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
6
Continue on CR 5
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
7
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kenwood Trail
8
Continue on CR 5
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Kenwood Trail
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 35 North
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 35
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 35W
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 65
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 65
Toward I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward 11th Street, East Grant Street
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
369 ft
·
9 sec
Toward 11th Street, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
15
Continue on 11th Street South
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
11th Street South
16
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue South
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on MN 65
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
3rd Avenue Bridge
18
Continue on MN 65
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Southeast Central Avenue
19
Turn left onto MN 47
3.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Southeast University Avenue
20
Continue on MN 47
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
University Avenue Northeast
21
Arrive at destination
MN 47
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just 46 minutes and no designated stops, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave whenever it suits you, as the relatively short distance means you won't need to worry about extensive pacing or long stretches without services. Your fuel cost is estimated at a low $4, so you likely won't need to plan frequent fuel stops. A practical tip for this route is to be mindful of traffic on I 35W, especially during peak commute hours, as it can significantly impact your 46-minute travel time.
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 14.9 miles from Lakeville, MN, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.4 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 29.8 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.9 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia Heights, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Lakeville, MN.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeville, MN
This is one driving day of about 29.8 miles and 46m.
At 29.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 16.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.9 mi from Lakeville, MN · 20m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.9 miles from Lakeville, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia Heights, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Columbia Heights, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.87 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.78 | $9.56 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.32 | $10.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Columbia Heights, MN
Evening in Columbia Heights on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
46m 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 Lakeville, MN to Columbia Heights, MN covers 29.8 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, Southeast University Avenue, I 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.9 miles from Lakeville, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.43 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 29.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lakeville, MN to Columbia Heights, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Minneapolis Community And Technical College along the way.
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