Origin
Burnsville, MN
Late night in Burnsville on Saturday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnsville, MN to Otsego, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
45.8 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnsville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Otsego, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Burnsville, MN to Otsego, MN is 45.8 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I 494, I 94, and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Minnesota, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a quick and efficient trip. You'll find this route useful for commuting, visiting friends, or as a short segment on a larger regional journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 21.7 mi | 27m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| I 35W | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| MN 101 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| 85th Street Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| MN 101 North Bypass | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| River Road Northeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Nicollet Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 21.7 mi, about 27m
Traffic on I-494
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,968 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~207 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 31 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, MN and Otsego, MN.
1
Start on Nicollet Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicollet Avenue South
2
Turn left onto MN 13
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 13
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 35W
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
7
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
MN 101 North Bypass
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto MN 101
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CR 42: River Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto River Road Northeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on CR 42
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Parrish Avenue Northeast
17
Turn left onto 85th Street Northeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
85th Street Northeast
18
Arrive at destination
85th Street Northeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Burnsville, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 38.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
8
38.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 207A-B
Toward MN 101, CR 81, MN 101 North: Rogers, Elk...
8
38.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
MN 101 North Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 101 North Bypass toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 207B
Toward MN 101 Bypass North: Elk River
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.41 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
| premium | $5.04 | $9.08 | $18.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.17 | $20.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Otsego, MN
Late night in Otsego on Saturday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Plymouth, MN
23 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
59m 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 trip is almost entirely highway driving, with 88% of the route on major interstates. You'll experience a consistent stretch of 21.7 miles on I 494, offering a smooth cruise. Expect a high density of exits and merging traffic as you navigate between these key highways. The transition from highway to any surface roads will be brief, given the route's profile.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.7 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 45.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
975 ft
789 ft
Total Climb
224 ft
Total Descent
319 ft
Highest Point
975 ft
Elevation Range
186 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burnsville, MN and Otsego, MN, road signs point toward Cr 81 and Elk River.
Cr 81
38.4 mi in
|
~48m
Elk River
38.4 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Arriving in Otsego, MN
Full guide →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 59m. Total distance: 45.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.7 miles on I 494. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Otsego, 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Otsego, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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