If you are planning a trip from Eagan to Braham, you are looking at a 70.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes to complete. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable regional outing within Minnesota. Navigating between these two Midwest locations involves utilizing I-35E North, the Purple Heart Memorial Highway, and US 10 West. Because this route is short and straightforward, it offers a great deal of flexibility for your travel schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Eagan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central Avenue Northeast
40.3 mi
48m
I 35E
15.3 mi
21m
US 10
11.2 mi
13m
Pilot Knob Road
1.7 mi
2m
Highway 107 Northeast
1.1 mi
2m
Main Avenue South
0.4 mi
<1m
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue Northeast
— 40.3 mi, about 48m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,223 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~313 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 35 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 Eagan, MN and Braham, MN.
1
Start on CR 31
1.7 mi·2 min·Pilot Knob Road
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 35E NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 35E
6.9 mi·9 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
2.7 mi·4 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
0.4 mi·35 sec·I 35E
6
Merge onto I 35E; I 94
350 ft·5 sec·Purple Heart Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto I 35E
5.2 mi·6 min·I 35E
Exit 242BToward I 35E North, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 10
Exit 113-114Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 10
3.9 mi·4 min·US 10
Exit 113Toward I 694 West, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 10
2.8 mi·3 min·US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
1.4 mi·1 min·US 10
Toward I 35W North, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
2.8 mi·3 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WestUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward MN 65: Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
222 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right onto MN 65
40 mi·48 min·Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
474 ft·17 sec
17
At end of road, turn left onto MN 107
1.1 mi·2 min·Highway 107 Northeast
18
Continue on MN 107
0.4 mi·46 sec·Main Avenue South
19
Arrive at destination
MN 107
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best fits your personal schedule without needing to worry about long-distance fatigue. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops given the 1 hour and 31 minute duration, though keeping a $10 fuel budget in mind ensures you are ready for the road. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy nature of the route, as the transition between I-35E North and the Purple Heart Memorial Highway requires careful navigation. Use the flexibility of this 70.9-mile trip to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local roads. Simply stay alert at junctions to ensure you stay on the correct path toward Braham.
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 35.4 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.3 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Braham, 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 70.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Eagan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Central Avenue Northeast for about 40.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 9 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9 mi into trip|~13m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.2 mi into trip|~18m in|I 35E
Take the exit onto I 35E toward I 35E North, US 10 West
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 242B
Toward I 35E North, US 10 West
9
17.4 mi into trip|~24m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113-114
Toward US 10 West, I 694 West, I 694 East
8
24.4 mi into trip|~33m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward I 35W North, US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W North, US 10 West
7
25.8 mi into trip|~35m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 10 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.64 one way
$23.28 round trip
$4.17/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$12.45
$24.90
premium
$4.95
$13.81
$27.62
diesel
$5.35
$14.93
$29.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.44
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.20
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.93
$4.54
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Eagan, MN
Afternoon
in Eagan on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Braham, MN
Afternoon
in Braham on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
5 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
1h 31m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 70.9-mile trek. While you will utilize major thoroughfares like I-35E North and US 10 West, the route does not feature any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway. Instead, the journey transitions through various local roads, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. The lack of a high highway percentage means you should be prepared for more frequent turns and navigation changes as you leave the Eagan area. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you engaged with the road rather than allowing for mindless highway travel.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 mi on Central Avenue Northeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
960 ft779 ft
Total Climb
257 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
960 ft
~60.7 mi in
Elevation Range
181 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
This 70.9-mile drive is a perfect, easy same-day round trip for a weekend getaway. With only 1 hour and 31 minutes of driving, you'll have plenty of time to explore Braham and get back home.
Family Friendly
This route is short enough at 70.9 miles to be manageable for kids, but the 10/10 complexity might make it stressful for the driver, especially with a full car. Consider planning for extra stops if you're not used to intricate navigation.
Solo Traveler
At just over 70 miles and 1.5 hours, this is a comfortable solo distance. However, the 10/10 complexity suggests you might want to pay close attention to navigation.
First-Time Driver
While the 1 hour 31 minute duration is manageable for a first-time driver, the 10/10 complexity rating means this route is quite challenging. You'll want to be very comfortable with navigation before attempting this drive.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.3 miles on Central Avenue Northeast. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Braham, 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 9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 35E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Braham, MN before heading back.
