Trip from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Lakeville, MN

Drive Time

39m

Distance

29.2 mi

47 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 36m ★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Minnetonka Mills, MN, MN

Minnetonka Mills, MN

Tom Fisk

Downtown Lakeville, MN, MN

Lakeville, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Minnetonka Mills, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 29.2 miles and takes about 39m 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 35W, Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.6 miles on I 494. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.18 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

14.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 39m highway drive covering 29.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 494 and I 35W. The longest continuous stretch is about 11.6 miles on I 494.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 494 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 29.2 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 0.1 miles (CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard

Turn left onto CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 494 South

Navigation decision point

Toward I 494 South
7
12.8 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
8
24.4 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward CR 5, CR 50

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 85 Toward CR 5, CR 50
6
29.2 mi into trip | ~39m in | 207th Street West

Turn left onto 207th Street West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Minnetonka Mills, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.

Cr 5

24.4 mi in | ~31m

Cr 50

24.4 mi in | ~31m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 494 11.6 mi 14m
I 35W 11.1 mi 12m
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway 2.2 mi 3m
Kenwood Trail 1.3 mi 2m
Minnetonka Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway 0.5 mi <1m
Holyoke Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 494 — 11.6 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minnetonka Mills, MN and Lakeville, MN.

1

Start on CR 61

320 ft · 16 sec · Shady Oak Road
2

Turn left onto CR 5; CR 61

0.8 mi · 1 min · Minnetonka Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn right onto CR 16

0.1 mi · 16 sec · McGinty Road West
4

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 494 South
5

Merge onto I 494

12 mi · 14 min · I 494
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 50 sec · this road
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
8

Merge onto I 35W

11 mi · 12 min · I 35W
Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 85 Toward CR 5, CR 50 Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto CR 5

1.3 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Enter roundabout onto CR 5

127 ft · 2 sec · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
12

Continue on CR 5

2.2 mi · 3 min · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
13

Continue on CR 5

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
14

Continue on CR 50

0.5 mi · 48 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
15

Enter roundabout onto Holyoke Avenue

12 ft · 0 sec · Holyoke Avenue
16

Continue on Holyoke Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Holyoke Avenue
17

Turn left onto 207th Street West

22 ft · 0 sec · 207th Street West
Use the left lane.
18

Arrive at destination

207th Street West

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 14.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.6 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 29.2 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 14.6 miles or 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

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 Minnetonka Mills, 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 Minnetonka Mills, MN

This is one driving day of about 29.2 miles and 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 494 for about 11.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.6 mi from Minnetonka Mills, MN · 19m into the drive

Downtown Bloomington, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, MN

15 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

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lakeville, MN

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.18 one way

$8.35 round trip

$3.63/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.92 $4.51 $9.02
premium $4.39 $5.05 $10.10
diesel $5.64 $6.49 $12.97

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: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.8 0 $3.07 $1.40
Efficient EV 7.3 0 $2.55 $1.17
EV Truck/SUV 11.7 0 $4.09 $1.87

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Minnetonka Mills, MN

Evening in Minnetonka Mills on Sunday

Local time

5:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakeville, MN

Evening in Lakeville on Sunday

Local time

5:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

25 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

39m 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 Minnetonka Mills, MN to Lakeville, MN covers 29.2 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 494, I 35W, Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.6 miles from Minnetonka Mills, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.18 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 29.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 5; CR 61 / Minnetonka Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Minnetonka Mills, MN and Lakeville, MN, road signs point toward Cr 5 and Cr 50.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Minnetonka Mills, MN or browse trips ending in Lakeville, MN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.

Explore maps for Minnetonka Mills, MN or Lakeville, MN on MapSof.net.