Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
57 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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
Howard Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
If you are planning a trip from Eagan to Howard Lake, you are looking at a manageable 57-mile drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a day trip, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Minnesota Midwest, the route relies on a combination of I-494, US-12, and the Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway. It is a straightforward, practical transit option for those moving between these two areas. Expect a balanced experience that keeps you moving efficiently while staying within the region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 16.7 mi | 20m |
| US 12 | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| 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 |
| Nelson Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 60th Street Southeast | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,860 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~224 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 84 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Howard Lake, 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
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn slight right onto US 12; MN 25
Merge onto US 12; MN 25
Continue on US 12; MN 25
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Continue on US 12
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.5 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
$9.03 one way
$18.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.85 | $10.88 | $21.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.56 | $25.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Evening in Eagan on Saturday
Local time
8:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Howard Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
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 trip offers a mixed-drive profile, with about 50% of your time spent on major highways. You will start with the most significant stretch of the journey, covering 16.7 miles on I-494 before transitioning onto other roadways. The character of the drive shifts as you move away from the interstate and onto US-12 and the Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway. While the initial portion involves typical highway flow, the latter half provides a different pace as you navigate toward your destination. You can anticipate a functional commute that transitions from high-speed arterial roads to secondary highway travel.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57 miles you will encounter 15 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 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
373 ft
Total Descent
302 ft
Highest Point
1,020 ft
~57 mi in
Elevation Range
287 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-14:00
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Wayzata, MN
Cuisine: mexican
Visit websiteFast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Minnetonka, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Fast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Minnetonka, MN
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: 08:00-23:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, short detour
Restaurant
Early in the drive, short detour
Minnetonka, MN
Cuisine: american;brunch
Hours: Sa-Su 09:00-21:30; Mo-Fr 11:00-21:30
Visit websitePark
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
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.
Founded 1855
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 57 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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