How far is Ely, MN from Lakeville, MN?

The driving distance from Ely, MN to Lakeville, MN is about 267.8 miles (431 km), with a travel time of about 04h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 32m 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
267.82 mi
04h 16m
Flight
234.19 mi
376.89 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ely.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
234.19 mi
Kilometers
376.89 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
267.82 mi
Kilometers
431.01 km
Drive Time
04h 16m

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 04h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lakeville
Tue, May 12, 10:36 PM CDT
Return by in Ely
Wed, May 13, 2:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ely
2026-05-12T18:20
Arrive Lakeville
Tue, May 12, 10:36 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ely
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
Moose Lake
MN

City in Carlton County, Minnesota, United States of America

From Ely
134.8 mi
02h 08m
To Lakeville
133 mi
02h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
72°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 25 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ely and Lakeville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ely and Lakeville.

  1. 1

    Start on West Sheridan Street

    20.1 mi · 29 min · West Sheridan Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    21.5 mi · 29 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    3038 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Continue on US 53 South: Virginia

    1664 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.6 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    35 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    37.3 mi · 43 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    15.3 mi · 19 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    3.9 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 35 South

    24 m · 1 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto I 35 South

    2829 ft · 40 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    109.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35W: Minneapolis

    44.3 mi · 53 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 5, CR 50

    999 ft · 26 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Kenwood Trail

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    39 m · 3 sec · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    770 ft · 17 sec · Kenwood Trai/Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2553 ft · 48 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 202nd Street West

    4 m · 1 sec · Holyoke Avenue

  23. 23

    Exit the rotary onto Holyoke Avenue

    2291 ft · 1 min · Holyoke Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 207th Street West

    7 m · 1 sec · 207th Street West

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 207th Street West

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ely and Lakeville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
2 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35 South
110 mi · 41%
Speaker Irvin N. Anderson Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 25%
I 35W
44.3 mi · 17%
West Sheridan Street
20.1 mi · 7%
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
2.2 mi · 1%
Main Street
1.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 35 South

Merge slight left

110 mi · 01h 58m

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
04h 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.6 mi
234.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Moose Lake
02h 08m from Ely
Leave By
8:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Ely and Mostly Sunny near Lakeville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ely to Lakeville?

The road trip is about 267.8 miles (431 km) and usually takes 04h 16m 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?

Moose Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.8 miles from Ely and 133 miles from Lakeville.

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

The direct path is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.6 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 8:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.73 one way or $67.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Ely and Mostly Sunny near Lakeville.

Stop Ideas Near Moose Lake

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Moose Lake, 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 Moose Lake.

BUS

Duluth (Greyhound Station), Minnesota

60 mi away
4426 Grand Ave.
BUS

Duluth (University of Minnesota), Minnesota

66 mi away
175 Kirby Student Union

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ely and Lakeville. Straight-line distance: 234.19 mi (376.89 km).

Ely

#1 Ely

City in Minnesota, United States

Population3,325
Coordinates47.9032400, -91.8670900
Altitude436
CountryUnited States
Lakeville

#2 Lakeville

The most populous city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Population69,583
Coordinates44.6496900, -93.2427200
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Start: MN 1 (-91.86709, 47.903279)
End: 207th Street West (-93.24272, 44.649706)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 431 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.45 gal
35.77 L · about $33.73
Round trip
$67.45
18.9 gal · 71.54 L
Estimated CO2
84 kg one way
Round trip: 168 kg / 370 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $33.73 $67.45
Mid-grade $3.92 $37.05 $74.11
Premium $4.39 $41.50 $83.01
Diesel $4.86 $45.96 $91.93

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Ely and Lakeville. The current time is 18:20:25.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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