How far is Lakeville, MN from Detroit Lakes, MN?

The driving distance from Lakeville, MN to Detroit Lakes, MN is about 223.1 miles (359.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 195.4 miles (314.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 49m 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
223.12 mi
04h 24m
Flight
195.38 mi
314.43 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
195.38 mi
Kilometers
314.43 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.12 mi
Kilometers
359.08 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Detroit Lakes
Tue, May 5, 9:54 AM CDT
Return by in Lakeville
Tue, May 5, 2:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lakeville
2026-05-05T05:29
Arrive Detroit Lakes
Tue, May 5, 9:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 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
8:10 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
Royalton
MN

City in Minnesota

From Lakeville
111.5 mi
02h 12m
To Detroit Lakes
111.7 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
45°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lakeville and Detroit Lakes.

  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 2 toward Kenwood Trail

    38 m · 2 sec · Kenwood Trail

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Kenwood Trail

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Kenwood Trail

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward I 35 North

    951 ft · 23 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 494 East, MN 5 East

    1527 ft · 37 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 494 West, MN 5 West

    1.3 km · 2 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    5.8 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    15.9 mi · 20 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Saint Cloud

    3250 ft · 50 sec

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    16.6 mi · 18 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    6 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    2016 ft · 53 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Pine Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Pine Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 25

    540 ft · 19 sec · State Highway 25

  22. 22

    Turn left onto County Road 11

    1.1 km · 54 sec · County Road 11

  23. 23

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  24. 24

    Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  25. 25

    Turn left

    54.4 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight left

    38 mi · 43 min

  27. 27

    Turn straight

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    10.9 mi · 12 min

  29. 29

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 2 sec

  30. 30

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    30 m · 2 sec

  31. 31

    Exit the roundabout

    29 m · 1 sec

  32. 32

    Turn straight

    44.3 mi · 51 min

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Washington Avenue

    781 ft · 27 sec · Washington Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
2 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
165th Avenue Southeast
50.7 mi · 23%
I 94 West
23.6 mi · 11%
I 494 West
22.6 mi · 10%
I 35 North
11.1 mi · 5%
Kenwood Trail /Richard J. Ames Memorial Highway
1.59 mi · 1%
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.38 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

54.4 mi · 01h 04m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.7 mi
195.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Royalton
02h 12m from Lakeville
Leave By
8:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lakeville and Partly Sunny near Detroit Lakes.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lakeville to Detroit Lakes?

The road trip is about 223.1 miles (359.1 km) and usually takes 04h 24m 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?

Royalton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.5 miles from Lakeville and 111.7 miles from Detroit Lakes.

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

The direct path is about 195.4 miles (314.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.7 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 8:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.09 one way or $56.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lakeville and Partly Sunny near Detroit Lakes.

Stop Ideas Near Royalton

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

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

RAIL

St. Cloud

31 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street
RAIL

Staples

70 mi away
First & Fourth Aves

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lakeville and Detroit Lakes. Straight-line distance: 195.38 mi (314.43 km).

Lakeville

#1 Lakeville

The most populous city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Population69,583
Coordinates44.6496900, -93.2427200
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Detroit Lakes

#2 Detroit Lakes

City in Minnesota, United States

Population9,255
Coordinates46.8171800, -95.8453300
Altitude418
CountryUnited States
Start: Lakeville (-93.24272, 44.64969)
End: Detroit Lakes (-95.84533, 46.81718)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 359 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.87 gal
29.8 L · about $28.09
Round trip
$56.18
15.74 gal · 59.6 L
Estimated CO2
69.9 kg one way
Round trip: 139.9 kg / 308 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $28.09 $56.18
Mid-grade $3.92 $30.86 $61.72
Premium $4.39 $34.57 $69.13
Diesel $4.86 $38.28 $76.56

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Lakeville and Detroit Lakes. The current time is 05:29:56.

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.