Eagan to Columbus is 37.9 miles and takes about 49 minutes via I 35E, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily in Minnesota. Given its short duration and predominantly highway profile, it’s a straightforward drive suitable for a quick relocation or a day trip. You'll find the route is efficient, making it easy to accomplish within a single day without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35E
30.3 mi
37m
Lake Drive Northeast
2.2 mi
3m
Pilot Knob Road
1.7 mi
2m
Kettle River Boulevard Northeast
1.3 mi
2m
I 694
0.8 mi
<1m
US 10
0.3 mi
<1m
Camp 3 Road Northeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 30.3 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,637 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,398
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 88 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 Columbus, 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
Take the exit
0.5 mi·35 sec
Exit 114Toward I 35E North, I 694 EastUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 694
0.8 mi·59 sec·I 694
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
15 mi·16 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E North: DuluthUse the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 129Toward MN 97, CR 23Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
250 ft·13 sec
Toward CR 23 WestUse the left lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 23
0.3 mi·27 sec·Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto CH 23
155 ft·2 sec·Lake Drive Northeast
16
Continue on CH 23
1.9 mi·2 min·Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Camp 3 Road Northeast
0.2 mi·29 sec·Camp 3 Road Northeast
18
Turn right onto CR 62
1.3 mi·2 min·Kettle River Boulevard Northeast
19
Arrive at destination
CR 62
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Eagan, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
17.7 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North, I 694 East
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 114
Toward I 35E North, I 694 East
8
34 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward MN 97, CR 23
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 129
Toward MN 97, CR 23
8
34.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 23 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 23 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$12.00 round trip
$4.02/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.28
$6.39
$12.78
premium
$4.85
$7.23
$14.47
diesel
$5.60
$8.35
$16.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.4
0
$3.98
$1.82
Efficient EV
9.5
0
$3.32
$1.52
EV Truck/SUV
15.2
0
$5.31
$2.43
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Forecast as of Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Eagan, MN
Afternoon
in Eagan on Friday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 0 to 5 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 8:17PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Columbus, MN
Afternoon
in Columbus on Friday
Local time
3:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
0 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 8:17PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
3 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
49m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 83% of the 37.9 miles on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 30.3 miles on I 35E. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The high highway percentage suggests a route with fewer turns and more consistent speeds for the majority of the trip.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.3 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Lake Drive Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort10/10
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 17 decision points packed into just 37.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
950 ft761 ft
Total Climb
211 ft
Total Descent
251 ft
Highest Point
950 ft
Elevation Range
189 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eagan, MN and Columbus, MN, road signs point toward Cr 23 and Cr 23 West.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 37.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.3 miles on I 35E. 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 Columbus, 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 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; at 17.7 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 Columbus, MN before heading back.
