Commute · Downtown Minneapolis
Living in Lake Elmo and commuting to downtown Minneapolis
Lake Elmo is about 35 minutes from downtown Minneapolis by car in light traffic, the 86th shortest drive of the 149 cities in our guides. Homes there sold for a median $665,000 over the 12 months through September 2026.
- Drive to downtown Minneapolis35 minlight traffic, from the city center
- Rank86thshortest of 149 cities
- Median sale price$665,00012 months through September 2026
- Average commute22.8 minresidents, all destinations (Census)
Shorter drives to downtown Minneapolis at a similar price
Cities with a shorter drive where homes sold for no more than 15% above Lake Elmo's median.
| City | Drive | Median sale price | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | 33 min | $457,700 | Lake Elmo vs. Woodbury |
| St. Paul Park | 33 min | $314,900 | Lake Elmo vs. St. Paul Park |
| Shakopee | 33 min | $428,450 | Shakopee guide |
| Lakeville | 33 min | $510,000 | Lakeville guide |
| Dayton | 33 min | $590,000 | Dayton guide |
| Anoka | 33 min | $345,000 | Anoka guide |
Other drives from Lake Elmo
- Downtown Saint Paul24 min
- MSP Airport34 min
- University of Minnesota32 min
- Mall of America35 min
Drive times are light-traffic estimates from each city’s center (OpenStreetMap routing). Your trip depends on your address and the time of day; allow more at rush hour.
Lake Elmo community guideLake Elmo market reportLake Elmo homes for saleEvery city by drive to downtown Minneapolis
Quick answers
Lake Elmo to downtown Minneapolis
How long is the drive from Lake Elmo to downtown Minneapolis?
About 35 minutes in light traffic from the center of Lake Elmo, roughly 18 miles in a straight line. Rush hour and your exact address can add time.
How long is the average commute in Lake Elmo?
22.8 minutes each way, the average travel time to work for Lake Elmo residents in the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), to all destinations.
Which cities have a shorter drive to downtown Minneapolis at a similar price?
Woodbury (33 minutes, median $457,700), St. Paul Park (33 minutes, median $314,900), Shakopee (33 minutes, median $428,450), Lakeville (33 minutes, median $510,000), among cities in our guides with at least 30 sales over the 12 months through September 2026.
What do homes cost in Lake Elmo?
The median sale price was $665,000 over the 12 months through September 2026 (251 sales), according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update.
Shorter commute, right home
Find a home that makes the drive easy.
Tell us where you need to be each day and your budget. A Huerkamp Home Group agent will send homes that fit both, and tell you how the drive really feels at rush hour. There's no cost to buyers.