How far is Detroit Lakes, MN from West Co on Rapids, MN?

The driving distance from Detroit Lakes, MN to West Co on Rapids, MN is about 185.7 miles (298.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 165.7 miles (266.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
185.64 mi
03h 40m
Flight
165.72 mi
266.7 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit Lakes.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
165.72 mi
Kilometers
266.7 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
185.64 mi
Kilometers
298.76 km
Drive Time
03h 40m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Co on Rapids
Wed, Oct 21, 5:29 AM CDT
Return by in Detroit Lakes
Wed, Oct 21, 9:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit Lakes
2026-10-21T01:48
Arrive West Co on Rapids
Wed, Oct 21, 5:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit Lakes
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Randall
MN

City in Minnesota, USA

From Detroit Lakes
92.7 mi
01h 50m
To West Co on Rapids
93 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Wednesday

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Wed, Oct 21 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NNE
Destination
70°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Oct 21 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Detroit Lakes and West Co on Rapids.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit Lakes and West Co on Rapids.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Avenue

    734 ft · 32 sec · Washington Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right

    44.3 mi · 51 min

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout

    20 m · 1 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Ash Avenue Northwest

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest

  6. 6

    Continue on West Mason Avenue

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min · West Mason Avenue

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    50.6 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Main Street, Greenhaven Road

    843 ft · 21 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Main Street, Greenhaven Road

    42 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Main Street

    30 m · 2 sec · West Main Street

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street

    2991 ft · 1 min · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Ferry Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Ferry Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Hayden Lake Road

    1771 ft · 48 sec · East Hayden Lake Road

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West River Road

    17 m · 1 sec · West River Road

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto West River Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West River Road

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West River Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Detroit Lakes and West Co on Rapids.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
0 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Mason Avenue
129 mi · 70%
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.26 mi · 4%
West River Road
2.35 mi · 1%
South Ferry Street
1.39 mi · 1%
West Main Street
0.59 mi
East Hayden Lake Road
0.34 mi
Longest Stretch

West Mason Avenue

Continue on West Mason Avenue

78.4 mi · 01h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20 mi
165.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Randall
01h 50m from Detroit Lakes
Leave By
9:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Detroit Lakes and Sunny near West Co on Rapids.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit Lakes to West Co on Rapids?

The road trip is about 185.7 miles (298.8 km) and usually takes 03h 40m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Randall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 92.7 miles from Detroit Lakes and 93 miles from West Co on Rapids.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 165.7 miles (266.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 20 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.86 one way or $55.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Detroit Lakes and Sunny near West Co on Rapids.

Stop Ideas Near Randall

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Randall, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Randall.

RAIL

Staples

37 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

St. Cloud

64 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit Lakes and West Co on Rapids. Straight-line distance: 165.72 mi (266.7 km).

Detroit Lakes

#1 Detroit Lakes

City in Minnesota, United States

Population9,255
Coordinates46.8171800, -95.8453300
Altitude418
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 West Co on Rapids

A city in Anoka County, Minnesota.

Population62,528
Coordinates45.1596900, -93.3496700
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit Lakes (-95.84533, 46.81718)
End: West Co on Rapids (-93.34967, 45.15969)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 299 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.55 gal
24.8 L · about $27.86
Round trip
$55.71
13.1 gal · 49.6 L
Estimated CO2
58.2 kg one way
Round trip: 116.4 kg / 257 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.25 $27.86 $55.71
Mid-grade $4.74 $31.01 $62.03
Premium $5.27 $34.50 $69.00
Diesel $6.21 $40.66 $81.32

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · Oct 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit Lakes and West Co on Rapids. The current time is 01:48:58.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.