Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11m
Distance
6.8 mi
11 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
This short 6.8-mile drive from Apple Valley to Eagan, Minnesota, is a quick 11-minute trip that works perfectly as a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate via Cedar Avenue, I-35E, and Diffley Road, with only about 20% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a very budget-friendly $1, making it an economical option. Given its brevity, no overnight stops are necessary. This route is a straightforward local drive within the Midwest region, ideal for a quick hop between nearby towns.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| I 35E | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Diffley Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Pilot Knob Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Eagan, MN.
Start on CR 42
Turn right onto CR 23
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35E
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 30
Turn right onto CR 31
Continue on CR 31
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 30: Diffley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 30 / Diffley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.01 one way
$2.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.09 | $2.18 |
| premium | $4.53 | $1.21 | $2.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.50 | $3.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.33 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.60 | $0.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.95 | $0.44 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Apple Valley on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Eagan on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this short hop between Apple Valley and Eagan. With a highway share of only 20%, you'll spend most of your time on surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.9 miles on Cedar Avenue. This route lacks long, open highway segments, instead offering a more connected, neighborhood-feel experience as you navigate through local roads. The character remains consistent, focusing on efficient travel through populated areas.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 11m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Eagan, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-14:00; Sa 06:30-16:00; Su 07...
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: coffee_shop;tea;dessert
Hours: Tu-Sa 07:00-15:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: breakfast;coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: chicken
Hours: Su-Th 10:00-24:00, Fr,Sa 10:00-02:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: american
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-02:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: chinese
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: mexican
Hours: Mo-Su 10:45-22:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Apple Valley, MN
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websitePark
Near the end, right off the route
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Apple Valley, MN
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Apple Valley, MN
Camp_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1860
Eagan is a city of 69,000 people (2021) in Minnesota on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. It is a suburb in the southern part of the Twin Cities region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 11m. Total distance: 6.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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