How far is Lakeville, MN from Dawson, MN?

The driving distance from Lakeville, MN to Dawson, MN is about 152.1 miles (244.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.2 miles (224.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m 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
152.12 mi
03h 25m
Flight
139.24 mi
224.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lakeville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.24 mi
Kilometers
224.09 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
152.12 mi
Kilometers
244.82 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dawson
Thu, Apr 23, 4:17 AM CDT
Return by in Lakeville
Thu, Apr 23, 7:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeville
2026-04-23T00:52
Arrive Dawson
Thu, Apr 23, 4:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 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
10:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lakeville
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
Buffalo Lake
MN

City in Minnesota, United States

From Lakeville
75.9 mi
01h 42m
To Dawson
76.2 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 207th Street West

    7 m · 5 sec · 207th Street West

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Holyoke Avenue

    2278 ft · 1 min · Holyoke Avenue

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 202nd Street West

    60 m · 4 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Exit the rotary onto 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2565 ft · 51 sec · 202nd Street West / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Kenwood Trail / Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 185th Street West /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    74 m · 5 sec · 185th Street West /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto 185th Street West /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · 185th Street West /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on 185th Street East /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    1.6 km · 1 min · 185th Street East /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Cleary Lake Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Cleary Lake Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Eagle Creek Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Eagle Creek Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

    29 m · 2 sec · Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

    1135 ft · 24 sec · Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

    25 m · 2 sec · Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

    3131 ft · 1 min · Eagle Creek Avenue Southeast

  16. 16

    Continue on Eagle Creek Avenue Northeast

    2357 ft · 57 sec · Eagle Creek Avenue Northeast

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 154th Street Northwest

    2 mi · 3 min · 154th Street Northwest

  18. 18

    Continue on Howard Lake Road

    3099 ft · 49 sec · Howard Lake Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Marschall Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Marschall Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto County Road 78

    1.2 km · 1 min · County Road 78

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 130th Street West

    32 m · 2 sec · 130th Street West

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto 130th Street West

    2 mi · 3 min · 130th Street West

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chestnut Boulevard

    42 m · 3 sec · Chestnut Boulevard

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Chestnut Boulevard

    2503 ft · 41 sec · Chestnut Boulevard

  25. 25

    Continue on County Road 78

    2459 ft · 41 sec · County Road 78

  26. 26

    Continue on Chestnut Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Chestnut Boulevard

  27. 27

    Continue on North Chestnut Street

    1512 ft · 53 sec · North Chestnut Street

  28. 28

    Turn left onto West 4th Street

    1552 ft · 43 sec · West 4th Street

  29. 29

    Continue on North Hickory Street

    154 m · 21 sec · North Hickory Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Chaska Boulevard

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Chaska Boulevard

  31. 31

    Turn left onto County Road 11

    1206 ft · 30 sec · County Road 11

  32. 32

    Take the ramp right toward US 212 West

    1854 ft · 45 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left

    24.1 mi · 29 min

  34. 34

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 212

    44 m · 2 sec · US Highway 212

  35. 35

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 212

    85.1 mi · 1 hr 50 min · US Highway 212

  36. 36

    Turn left

    16.2 mi · 24 min

  37. 37

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    1419 ft · 41 sec · 5th Street

  38. 38

    Turn right onto Locust Street

    112 m · 18 sec · Locust Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto 6th Street

    98 m · 9 sec · 6th Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
40 steps
25 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
1 merges, 15 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 212
85.1 mi · 56%
US 212 West
24.5 mi · 16%
Marschall Road
2.57 mi · 2%
Eagle Creek Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Hig
2.52 mi · 2%
Cleary Lake Avenue /Richard J. Ames Memorial Hig
2.35 mi · 2%
Chestnut Boulevard
2.13 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US Highway 212

Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 212

85.1 mi · 01h 50m

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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.9 mi
139.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buffalo Lake
01h 42m from Lakeville
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Lakeville and Chance Rain Showers near Dawson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 152.1 miles (244.8 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?

Buffalo Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.9 miles from Lakeville and 76.2 miles from Dawson.

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

The direct path is about 139.2 miles (224.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.9 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 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.17 one way or $38.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Lakeville and Chance Rain Showers near Dawson.

Stop Ideas Near Buffalo Lake

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

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

RAIL

St. Cloud

99 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Saint Paul Union Depot

116 mi away
Midway Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeville and Dawson. Straight-line distance: 139.24 mi (224.09 km).

Lakeville

#1 Lakeville

The most populous city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Population69,583
Coordinates44.6496900, -93.2427200
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Dawson

Human settlement in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population1,378
Coordinates44.9327400, -96.0544800
Altitude319
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeville (-93.24272, 44.64969)
End: Dawson (-96.05448, 44.93274)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 245 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.37 gal
20.32 L · about $19.17
Round trip
$38.33
10.74 gal · 40.64 L
Estimated CO2
47.7 kg one way
Round trip: 95.4 kg / 210 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $19.17 $38.33
Mid-grade $3.92 $21.06 $42.11
Premium $4.39 $23.59 $47.17
Diesel $4.86 $26.12 $52.24

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Lakeville and Dawson. The current time is 00:52:01.

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.