This page delivers traffic analytics for Dakota County, Minnesota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Dakota County, Minnesota among 1,199 road miles divided in 23,329 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 271 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
5,370
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.0%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
30.3 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
14.1%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$120,952
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 5,370 vehicles per day in Dakota County, Minnesota that results in 9,984,125 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈3.6 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 14 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 30.3 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Minnesota state averages: Dakota's average daily traffic volume is 58% higher than the state average - 5,370 vehicles per day against 3,404 - suggesting more traffic load per road, a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Across the whole network that adds up to 9,984,125 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈3.6 billion per year), roughly 7.1% of Minnesota's statewide total. The average trip takes 30.3 minutes, 6% lower than the state level. The congestion ratio of 14.1% is 33% higher, pointing to more pronounced congestion than the state level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. By volume, Dakota's 5,370 vehicles per day outpaces 98% of counties in Minnesota. 13% of counties in Minnesota have a shorter average travel time than Dakota's 30.3 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
13,729
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.7%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.7 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
27.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$115,599
A significant volume of traffic in Dakota County, Minnesota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 13,729 vehicles per day, 213% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 4,387 vehicles per day. That average covers 308 highway road miles divided in 2,453 segments (average segment length 663 ft), together carrying 5,931,605 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈2.2 billion per year). By highway travel volume, that ranks Dakota in the top 3 counties in Minnesota. Trucks constitute 8.7% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (8.7%) is 15% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Dakota serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Dakota's highway truck share (8.7%) is higher than 12% of counties in Minnesota. By raw truck volume, Dakota carries more highway trucks than 90% of counties in Minnesota.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
4,387
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
29.8 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
12.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
45.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$126,039
The non-highway road network in Dakota County, Minnesota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 4,387 vehicles per day, 68% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 13,729 vehicles per day. That average covers 891 non-highway road miles divided in 20,876 segments (average segment length 225 ft), together carrying 4,052,521 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.5 billion per year). Trucks constitute 4.4% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 49% lower than on highways. At 28% higher than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 12.5% signals more friction on local roads. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 13% of counties in Minnesota. 97% of counties in Minnesota see lower average driver income among trip origins than Dakota. Dakota's median driver age is higher than 19% of counties in Minnesota.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 81% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 19% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +8% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -15% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Dakota County, Minnesota, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +8% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Dakota
Minnesota
Average
Difference
Traffic
5,370
3,404
+57.7%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
7.0%
8.1%
-13.6%
Truck % (Highway)
8.7%
10.3%
-15.1%
Avg. Travel Time
30.3 min
32.2 min
-6.1%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 5,370 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Dakota carries more traffic than 98% of counties in Minnesota, averaging 5,370 vehicles per day.
Traffic volumes are typically 8% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 4,560 vehicles per day - a 15% decrease from the annual average.
The average travel time for drivers is 30.3 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Drivers on Dakota roads have a median age of 45 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $120,952 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Approximately 27% of highway traffic and 6% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Dakota County, Minnesota. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Trucks account for approximately 7.0% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 8.7% on highways.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
