Eagan, MN to Saint Joseph, MN is 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, taking you from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area into more central parts of the state. With 89% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward and efficient trip. This route is ideal for a quick relocation or a visit to friends and family without a significant time commitment. Plan for a smooth ride that keeps you moving at a good pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Eagan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
56.3 mi
1h
I 494
24.8 mi
30m
Cedar Avenue
4.1 mi
4m
Diffley Road
2.5 mi
4m
County Road 2
1 mi
2m
County Road 75
0.9 mi
1m
College Avenue North
0.2 mi
<1m
Pilot Knob Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 56.3 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,445 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,307
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Saint Joseph, 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 WestUse 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 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse 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
40 mi·42 min·I 94
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward CR 2: Saint Joseph
15
Turn right onto CR 2
0.3 mi·41 sec·County Road 2
16
Continue on this road
382 ft·10 sec·this road
17
Turn straight onto CR 2
0.7 mi·1 min·County Road 2
18
Turn right onto CR 75
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 75
19
Turn right onto CR 2
0.2 mi·26 sec·College Avenue North
20
Arrive at destination
College Avenue North
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 48m duration, this is easily a same-day trip, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour in the Eagan area. You won't need to stress about extensive stops, but a quick break around the halfway point would be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $15, and it's always wise to top up before heading out. The longest stretch without a major road change is 56.3 miles on I 94, so plan any quick errands before or after that segment.
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 45.7 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 56m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, 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 91.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Eagan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 56.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 32 — 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
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|MN 77 / Cedar Avenue
Merge onto MN 77 / Cedar Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.90 one way
$29.81 round trip
$4.15/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$16.04
$32.08
premium
$4.95
$17.80
$35.61
diesel
$5.97
$21.45
$42.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
EV Charging Along Route
13 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Bloomington, MN - Tesla Supercharger
Bloomington, MN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Eagan, MN - Tesla Supercharger
Eagan, MN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Walmart EV Charging
Bloomington, MN
WALMART
8 DCFC
Cub Foods - Tesla Supercharger
Minneapolis, MN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Simon-Twin Cities Premium Outlets (Eagan, MN)
Eagan, MN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Target T2313 (Edina, MN)
Edina, MN
Electrify America
6 DCFC
CircleK - Burnsville, MN
Burnsville, MN
CIRCLE_K
4 DCFC
Burnsville, MN Rechargery Relay @ Circle K - Nicollet Ave South
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Sep 11, 2026
Origin
Eagan, MN
Late night
in Eagan on Saturday
Local time
2:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 20 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 10 at 11:51PM CDT until September 11 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Saint Joseph, MN
Late night
in Saint Joseph on Saturday
Local time
2:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
S 5 to 20 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 10 at 11:51PM CDT until September 11 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 48m 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 route is primarily highway driving, with 89% of the 91.3 miles on interstates. You'll experience a solid 56.3-mile stretch on I 94 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the interstate segments. The transition away from the main highway will likely involve more local road navigation.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1h 48m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on I 94. 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 Saint Joseph, 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 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 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 Saint Joseph, MN before heading back.
