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Trip from Eagan, MN to Avon, 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 52m

Distance

96.8 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Minnesota, United States

Eagan, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States of America

Avon, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 96.8-mile drive from Eagan, MN to Avon, MN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 52 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, making it a focused driving experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest region. The route's efficiency means you can maximize your time at your destination without feeling rushed. Consider this a simple, no-fuss transit between two points in Minnesota.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.4 miles from Eagan, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 63.5 mi 1h 8m
I 494 24.8 mi 30m
Cedar Avenue 4.1 mi 4m
Diffley Road 2.5 mi 4m
Avon Avenue South 0.3 mi <1m
Pilot Knob Road <0.1 mi <1m
Stratford Street West <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 63.5 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Avon, MN.

1

Start on CR 31

222 ft · 6 sec · Pilot Knob Road
2

Turn left onto CR 30

2.0 mi · 3 min · Diffley Road
Use the left lane.
3

Enter roundabout onto CR 30

100 ft · 2 sec · Diffley Road
4

Continue on CR 30

0.5 mi · 1 min · Diffley Road
5

Take the ramp

304 ft · 8 sec
Toward MN 77 North: Cedar Avenue
6

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 34 sec
7

Merge onto MN 77

4.1 mi · 4 min · Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto I 494; MN 5

8.8 mi · 11 min · I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5

16 mi · 19 min · I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

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.
12

Continue on I 94

17 mi · 18 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

47 mi · 50 min · I 94
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward CR 9: Avon
15

Turn right onto CR 9

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Avon Avenue South
16

Turn left onto Stratford Street West

192 ft · 14 sec · Stratford Street West
17

Turn left

54 ft · 4 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 52-minute duration, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Eagan at your leisure, as there are no significant time pressures. With only 96.8 miles and a fuel cost around $14, planning for extensive stops isn't necessary, though you'll find ample services along I-94 should you need a break. A practical tip for this drive is to be mindful of morning and evening commute times on I-494, as this section can experience heavier traffic, potentially adding to your travel time beyond the estimated 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.5 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 21 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.4 miles or 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Avon, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Eagan, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Eagan, MN

This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Eagan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 63.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Otsego, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Otsego, MN

48 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

Minnetonka Mills, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albertville, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Eagan, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.5 miles.

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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 32 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in | CR 30 / Diffley Road

Enter roundabout onto CR 30 / Diffley Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
2.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | MN 77 / Cedar Avenue

Merge onto MN 77 / Cedar Avenue

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
16 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 494; MN 5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
32 mi into trip | ~41m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.41 one way

$28.81 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $15.52 $31.04
premium $4.53 $17.27 $34.54
diesel $5.61 $21.37 $42.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29 0 $10.16 $4.65
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.47 $3.87
EV Truck/SUV 38.7 0 $13.55 $6.20

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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

Eagan, MN

Late night in Eagan on Sunday

Local time

2:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Avon, MN

Late night in Avon on Sunday

Local time

2:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

20 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 52m 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 drive for this trip, with 91% of the journey utilizing major roadways. The majority of your time will be spent on I-94, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 63.5 miles. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and a predictable driving environment for a significant portion of the 96.8 miles. Cedar Avenue and I-494 also contribute to the predominantly highway nature of this route, offering a direct and efficient path.

91% 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: 63.5 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near CR 30 / Diffley Road.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Eagan, MN

Full guide →

Eagan is a city of 69,000 people (2021) in Minnesota on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. It is a suburb in the southern part of the Twin Cities region.

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 52m. Total distance: 96.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 63.5 miles on I 94. 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 Avon, 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 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Avon, 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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