If you are looking for a straightforward getaway in the Midwest, this 68.9-mile journey from Eagan to Springvale is an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 36 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Your travel budget remains quite low, with estimated fuel costs hovering around $10 for the entire route. By utilizing a combination of I-35E North, the Purple Heart Memorial Highway, and US 10 West, you will navigate through the heart of Minnesota. This drive is best suited for those who prefer a flexible schedule rather than a rigid itinerary, as its short duration allows you to depart whenever it suits your plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.5 miles from Eagan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central Avenue Northeast
33.9 mi
40m
I 35E
15.3 mi
21m
US 10
11.2 mi
13m
County Road 6
4 mi
9m
Pilot Knob Road
1.7 mi
2m
357th Avenue Northeast
1 mi
4m
Hastings Street Northeast
1 mi
2m
Purple Heart Memorial Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue Northeast
— 33.9 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Springvale, 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
Continue on US 10
3.9 mi·4 min·US 10
Exit 113Toward I 694 West, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 10
2.8 mi·3 min·US 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
1.4 mi·1 min·US 10
Toward I 35W North, US 10 WestUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
2.8 mi·3 min·US 10
Toward US 10 WestUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward MN 65: Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
222 ft·6 sec
15
Turn right onto MN 65
34 mi·40 min·Central Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto 357th Avenue Northeast
1.0 mi·4 min·357th Avenue Northeast
17
Turn right onto CR 33
1.0 mi·2 min·Hastings Street Northeast
18
Turn left onto CR 6
4.0 mi·9 min·County Road 6
19
Turn right onto Flamingo Street Northwest
49 ft·2 sec·Flamingo Street Northwest
20
Arrive at destination
Flamingo Street Northwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip of under two hours, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the total duration is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because the route is turn-heavy, it is wise to ensure your GPS is mounted and ready before you leave Eagan to avoid missing any transitions. Budgeting $10 for gas is sufficient, but checking your fuel levels before heading out on these local roads is a smart safety habit. Use the lack of required stops to your benefit by choosing a departure window that avoids local peak traffic hours.
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 34.5 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.9 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.5 miles or 45m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springvale, 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 68.9 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Eagan, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Central Avenue Northeast for about 33.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 9 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9 mi into trip|~13m in|I 35E
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
24.4 mi into trip|~33m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward I 35W North, US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W North, US 10 West
7
25.8 mi into trip|~35m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 10 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.25 one way
$20.51 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$11.05
$22.10
premium
$4.53
$12.29
$24.59
diesel
$5.61
$15.21
$30.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.7
0
$7.23
$3.31
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.03
$2.76
EV Truck/SUV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Eagan, MN
Late night
in Eagan on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springvale, MN
Late night
in Springvale on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
22 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
1h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 68.9-mile distance. The experience is defined by shifting road types as you transition between the Purple Heart Memorial Highway and US 10 West. Because this is not a high-speed freeway trek, you will find the character of the road changes frequently, requiring you to stay alert through various turns. It is a practical, functional way to move through the region, trading high-speed efficiency for a more hands-on driving experience.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.9 mi on Central Avenue Northeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 9 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 36m. Total distance: 68.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.9 miles on Central Avenue Northeast. 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 Springvale, 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 9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springvale, MN before heading back.
