Origin
Big Lake, MN
Afternoon in Big Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Lake, MN to Burnsville, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
56.7 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Burnsville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 56.7-mile drive from Big Lake to Burnsville, Minnesota, is an easy 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it a perfect single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate major interstates, including I-94, I-494, and I-35W, with 87% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $8, reflecting its relatively short distance. Given its manageable length and direct path, this drive is ideal for a quick excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It's a straightforward journey through the Midwest region of Minnesota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 21.9 mi | 27m |
| I 94 | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| I 35W | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Lake Street South | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Broadway Street East | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Nicollet Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| MN 13 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fenning Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 21.9 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Lake, MN and Burnsville, MN.
1
Start on US 10; MN 25
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
2
Turn right onto MN 25
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lake Street South
3
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pine Street
4
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Street East
5
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Fenning Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 494
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
12
Merge onto I 35W
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 3A
Toward MN 13 North
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Merge onto MN 13
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
MN 13
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Nicollet Avenue South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicollet Avenue South
16
Continue on Nicollet Avenue South
289 ft
·
13 sec
·
Nicollet Avenue South
17
Arrive at destination
Nicollet Avenue South
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Big Lake, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
26.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
48.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
5
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward MN 13 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward MN 13 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.44 one way
$16.88 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.09 | $18.18 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.12 | $20.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.52 | $25.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.95 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.94 | $3.63 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Burnsville, MN
Afternoon in Burnsville on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m 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 highway-focused experience on this route, with the majority of your travel on interstates. The road is predominantly fast-paced, designed for efficient travel between points. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.9 miles on I-494, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While mostly interstate, the route is designed for practicality rather than scenic exploration, keeping you moving steadily towards your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 5.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Burnsville, MN
Full guide →Burnsville is a city in Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 56.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on I 494. 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 Burnsville, 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: at 5.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burnsville, 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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