Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Eden Prairie, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.7 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Apple Valley and Eden Prairie, you are looking at a quick 21.7-mile trip that typically takes about 24 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it functions more as a standard commute within the Midwest region than a long-haul road trip. You will navigate using a combination of Cedar Avenue, I-494 West, and US-212 West to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an incredibly economical drive. Because the trip is brief and direct, there is no need for overnight stops or elaborate planning. Ultimately, this journey is a straightforward, practical way to traverse the local area without any unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Avenue | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| I 494 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| MN 5 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Scenic Heights Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| County Road 42 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Cedar Avenue
— 9.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 494; MN 5
6
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 5
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CR 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mitchell Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Scenic Heights Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 494; MN 5
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
18.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
20.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.23 one way
$6.46 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.48 | $6.96 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Eden Prairie, MN
Morning in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than offering a monotonous interstate grind. While you will spend time on major thoroughfares like I-494, the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, requiring you to stay attentive through various transitions. You will navigate a mix of local roads and highway segments, though the drive does not rely heavily on highway travel. The personality of this trip is functional and precise, shifting from local corridors to busier arterial roads as you progress. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments as you weave through the suburban landscape toward Eden Prairie.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.5 mi on Cedar Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 21.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 494; MN 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.5 miles on Cedar Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Eden Prairie, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 494; MN 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eden Prairie, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
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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