Elm Creek Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Eagan, MN to New York Mills, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 39m
Distance
183.9 mi
296 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 27m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
New York Mills, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Eagan, MN to New York Mills, MN is 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 39m via US 10 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, beginning in the Twin Cities metro area and heading northwest. You'll primarily be on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a short duration and manageable fuel cost, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92 miles from Eagan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 10 | 122.4 mi | 2h 21m |
| I 494 | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| I 94 | 22.6 mi | 24m |
| Cedar Avenue | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Diffley Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 165th Avenue Southeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Boulevard Southeast | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| East Centennial 84 Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 122.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,135 veh/hr typical · worst 4,804
Quietest
2 AM
~220 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 47 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 New York Mills, 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
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 94
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
15
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
16
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 25
17
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
County Road 11
18
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Boulevard Southeast
19
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
165th Avenue Southeast
20
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 10
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
38 mi
·
42 min
·
US 10
22
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 10; MN 210
23
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 10; IC A
24
Turn slight right
67 ft
·
2 sec
25
Enter roundabout
100 ft
·
1 sec
26
Continue
96 ft
·
1 sec
27
Turn straight onto US 10
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 10
28
Turn left onto CH 84
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Centennial 84 Drive
29
Arrive at destination
CH 67; 84
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 39m driving time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $30, planning is relatively simple. The longest continuous stretch on US 10 is over 120 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration of highway driving before departing or plan a brief stop before that segment begins.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.4 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 40 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York Mills, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eagan, MN
This is one driving day of about 183.9 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Eagan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 122.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92 miles from Eagan, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Central Minnesota Rest Area & Travel Information Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 172.1 — 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
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
6
172.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.94 one way
$61.87 round trip
$4.27/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $33.32 | $66.64 |
| premium | $5.04 | $36.46 | $72.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.83 | $81.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.31 | $8.83 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.09 | $7.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.75 | $11.77 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Eagan, MN
Evening in Eagan on Friday
Local time
8:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
S 15 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Destination
New York Mills, MN
Evening in New York Mills on Friday
Local time
8:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
6 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
3h 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 92% of the drive on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 122.4 miles on US 10, which is a significant portion of the trip. This means you'll likely experience consistent cruising speeds for an extended period before transitioning to other roads. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely be noticeable as exit density decreases.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.4 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 183.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,417 ft
820 ft
Total Climb
657 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
1,417 ft
~183.9 mi in
Elevation Range
597 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Eagan, MN
Full guide →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.
Arriving in New York Mills, MN
Full guide →Founded 1883
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 3h 39m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.4 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 New York Mills, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at New York Mills, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, 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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