Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Delano, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Eagan, MN to Delano, MN is 42.4 miles and takes about 56 minutes via I 494, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within the Midwest region. You'll primarily be on interstate highways for a good portion of the drive, making it a quick and efficient journey. Consider this route if you need to get from the Eagan area to Delano without much fuss. The drive is short enough that you can easily plan it for a weekday or weekend.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 16.7 mi | 20m |
| Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa | 11 mi | 14m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Cedar Avenue | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Diffley Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Bridge Avenue West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pilot Knob Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| I 394 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Delano, MN.
Start on CR 31
Turn left onto CR 30
Enter roundabout onto CR 30
Continue on CR 30
Take the ramp
Turn slight right
Merge onto MN 77
Take the exit
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Take the exit
Merge onto I 394
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
Turn right onto Bridge Avenue West
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.2 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 24.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 West: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.31 one way
$12.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.57 | $15.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Late night in Eagan on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Delano on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
57°F
Plymouth, MN
21 mi in
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 characterized as a mixed bag, with 39% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster driving, including a continuous 16.7-mile segment on I 494. Following that, the route transitions to roads like Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway and Babcock Boulevard, offering a change of pace from the interstate. Expect a dynamic driving experience that balances efficient highway travel with more local road navigation as you approach your destination.
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 7 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 42.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (I 494; MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1860
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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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