Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Falcon Heights, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
20.2 mi
32 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 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Falcon Heights, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Apple Valley, MN to Falcon Heights, MN is 20.2 miles and takes about 31 minutes via I 35E and Snelling Avenue, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive entirely within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. The route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a quick trip without requiring an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on interstate highways and major avenues, making it an efficient journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| Snelling Avenue | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Cedar Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Ayd Mill Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Selby Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Larpenteur Avenue West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 11.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Falcon Heights, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 35E
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Ayd Mill Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ayd Mill Road
Toward Ayd Mill Road
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on Selby Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Selby Avenue
7
Turn right onto MN 51
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Snelling Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto CH 30
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
Larpenteur Avenue West
Use the right lane.
9
Arrive at destination
CH 30
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17 — 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
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Ayd Mill Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Ayd Mill Road toward Ayd Mill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Ayd Mill Road
6
17 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
MN 51 / Snelling Avenue
Turn right onto MN 51 / Snelling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.01 one way
$6.01 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.60 | $7.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Falcon Heights, MN
Morning in Falcon Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
20 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
31m 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?
This drive features a substantial highway component, with 55% of the journey on interstate roads. You'll experience an 11.1-mile stretch on I 35E, which is the longest uninterrupted section. The profile is described as a mixed drive, indicating you'll transition from faster interstate speeds to potentially more urban surface streets as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of efficient travel on main arteries with some local road navigation.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.1 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.2 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.1 miles on I 35E. 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 Falcon Heights, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Falcon Heights, 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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