Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 10, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
19.1 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanhassen, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Burnsville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Chanhassen to Burnsville is 19.1 miles and takes about 25m via MN 5 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the same region. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to complete in a single day, making it ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on well-traveled highways, so expect consistent traffic flow for most of the way.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| I 35W | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| West 78th Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| Nicollet Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| MN 13 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Chanhassen Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,010 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~339 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 18 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Chanhassen, MN and Burnsville, MN.
Start on West 78th Street
Turn sharp right onto MN 101
Turn left onto MN 5
Continue on MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 35W
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 13
Turn right onto Nicollet Avenue South
Continue on Nicollet Avenue South
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto MN 5 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
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 13 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.01 one way
$6.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.31 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| premium | $4.78 | $3.59 | $7.19 |
| diesel | $5.21 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-08.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Chanhassen on Tuesday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Burnsville on Tuesday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 67% of the 19.1 miles on major roads like MN 5 and I-35W. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 6.4 miles on MN 5. The highway portion will likely feature multiple exits and merging traffic as you navigate between these main arteries. Expect the transition to surface streets to occur around the 5.9-mile mark, marking the end of the primary highway driving.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 5 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near MN 5.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 19.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
328 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
975 ft
~19.1 mi in
Elevation Range
256 ft
Founded 1969
Chanhassen is a small city in Minnesota just southwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Chanhassen is close to the big city, but still has that small town charm, making it appealing for all types of visitors. There are many opportunities for fun, family and business in Chanhassen.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 19.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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