Traveling from Detroit Lakes to Eden Prairie covers 201.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 58 minutes. This route serves as an efficient connection through the Midwest, making it a manageable day trip that fits easily into a single day of driving. With a fuel budget of approximately $29, you can plan your logistics without worrying about major refueling expenses. While the distance is significant, the path is straightforward and reliable for those moving between these two Minnesota hubs. You will spend your journey transitioning through the heart of the state, ensuring a consistent experience from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.8 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Mason Avenue
78.4 mi
1h 29m
US 10
70.5 mi
1h 21m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
I 494
13.5 mi
16m
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.3 mi
8m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Baker Road
1.7 mi
3m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
West Mason Avenue
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Detroit Lakes, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on CR 22
0.1 mi·31 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 10
44 mi·50 min·US 10
3
Enter roundabout
103 ft·1 sec
4
Continue
66 ft·0 sec
5
Turn straight onto US 10
7.3 mi·8 min·Ash Avenue Northwest
6
Continue on US 10
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·West Mason Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
8
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
9
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
10
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
11
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
12
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
13
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
14
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 494
14 mi·16 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 13Toward MN 62, CR 62Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 62
0.1 mi·20 sec·CR 62
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto CR 60
1.7 mi·3 min·Baker Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on CR 60
1.0 mi·2 min·Mitchell Road
23
Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Scenic Heights Road
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth journey, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak congestion as you approach the Eden Prairie area. Since the entire trip is designed to be completed in a single day, you only need to account for one planned stop to maintain your energy levels. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the initial 78.4-mile stretch on West Mason Avenue, as services may be less frequent than on the major interstate portions. Given the four-hour duration, scheduling your break near the midpoint of the drive will help you stay refreshed for the final approach. This flexibility allows you to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions without needing to book an overnight stay.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.8 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eden Prairie, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Detroit Lakes, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Detroit Lakes, MN
This is one driving day of about 201.5 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Detroit Lakes, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on West Mason Avenue for about 78.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.5 and 198.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
44.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 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
8
197.8 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward MN 62, CR 62
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward MN 62, CR 62
6
198.1 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|CR 62
Turn right onto CR 62
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
198.2 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|CR 60 / Baker Road
Turn left onto CR 60 / Baker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.99 one way
$59.97 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$32.31
$64.62
premium
$4.53
$35.95
$71.91
diesel
$5.61
$44.49
$88.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.16
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.21
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Detroit Lakes, MN
Evening
in Detroit Lakes on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eden Prairie, MN
Evening
in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
17 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
3h 58m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed-profile drive transitions across various road types, requiring you to stay alert as conditions shift. You will navigate a combination of local routes, including 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue, before merging onto the broader US 10 and I-94 corridors. With 52% of your journey spent on highways, you should expect a blend of slower, more technical sections and faster, high-traffic interstate stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs early on West Mason Avenue, setting the pace before you reach the more heavily traveled highway portions of the trip.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on West Mason Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 44.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 201.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 197.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 201.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on West Mason Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 183.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 197.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Eden Prairie, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
