Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Lakeville, MN to Albertville, MN covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 494, I 94, I 35W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.7 miles on I 494. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.70 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.9 miles from Lakeville, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
This is a 1h 7m highway drive covering 53.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 494 and I 94. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.7 miles on I 494.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
521 ft
Total Descent
529 ft
Highest Point
1,063 ft
~2.2 mi in
Elevation Range
343 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 53.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 37, CR 137, CR 19: Albertville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 37, CR 137
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 21.7 mi | 27m |
| I 94 | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| I 35W | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| I 35 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Kenwood Trail | 1.2 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeville, MN and Albertville, MN.
Start on 207th Street West
Turn right onto Holyoke Avenue
Enter roundabout onto CR 50
Continue on CR 50
Continue on CR 5
Continue on CR 5
Enter roundabout onto CR 5
Continue on CR 5
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto CR 137
Continue on CR 37
Turn left onto Main Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto 60th Street Northeast
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
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 53.8 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.9 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albertville, MN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lakeville, 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 Lakeville, MN
This is one driving day of about 53.8 miles and 1h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.9 mi from Lakeville, MN · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 53.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Lakeville, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Albertville, 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 Albertville, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $8.31 | $16.61 |
| premium | $4.39 | $9.30 | $18.61 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.95 | $23.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Late night in Lakeville on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:05PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:04PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Late night in Albertville on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:05PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 11 at 1:04PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Along the Route
41°F
Bloomington, MN
27 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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