If you are planning a trip from Eden Prairie to Blue Earth, you can expect a straightforward 108.3-mile journey through the heart of Minnesota. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the trip. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have extra time to linger. Navigating this path involves a blend of US 169, US 212, and County Road 11, keeping you firmly within the Midwest. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that gets you from the suburbs to the southern part of the state without requiring a complex itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 169
87.3 mi
1h 50m
US 212
9.5 mi
10m
County Road 11
5.4 mi
8m
Jonathan Carver Parkway
2 mi
3m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
Scenic Heights Road
1 mi
2m
County Road 40
0.6 mi
<1m
Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 87.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn right onto CR 4
0.2 mi·38 sec·Eden Prairie Road
3
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 212 West
4
Merge onto US 212
9.5 mi·10 min·US 212
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CR 11
310 ft·5 sec·County Road 11
7
Continue on CR 11
1.1 mi·1 min·Jonathan Carver Parkway
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 11
111 ft·2 sec·Jonathan Carver Parkway
9
Continue on CR 11
0.9 mi·1 min·Jonathan Carver Parkway
10
Continue on CR 11; CR 40
0.6 mi·55 sec·County Road 40
11
Turn left onto CR 11
5.4 mi·7 min·County Road 11
12
Turn right onto US 169
5.7 mi·6 min·US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on US 169
3.8 mi·4 min·US 169
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 169
24 mi·29 min·US 169
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 169; MN 99
14 mi·18 min·US 169; MN 99
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 169; MN 60
3.4 mi·4 min·US 169; MN 60
17
Turn left onto US 169
36 mi·47 min·US 169
18
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft·1 sec·Fairgrounds Road
19
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Fairgrounds Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
21
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft·8 sec·East 7th Street
22
Turn right
53 ft·6 sec
23
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 108.3-mile drive, consider departing during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the initial US 212 and County Road 11 segments. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, provided you account for the time in your 2 hour and 22 minute travel estimate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Eden Prairie, though the $15 budget should easily cover your needs for the duration of the trip. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay focused during the long 87.3-mile stretch on US 169, as the consistency of the highway can make it easy to lose track of your speed. Planning your departure to align with light traffic will ensure you arrive in Blue Earth feeling refreshed.
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 54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 9m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eden Prairie, 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 Eden Prairie, MN
This is one driving day of about 108.3 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Eden Prairie, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 87.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 108.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in
Turn left toward US 212 West
Navigation decision point
Toward US 212 West
5
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|US 212
Merge onto US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
11.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
5
19.6 mi into trip|~27m in|US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.12 one way
$32.23 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$17.37
$34.73
premium
$4.53
$19.32
$38.65
diesel
$5.61
$23.91
$47.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
Efficient EV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
EV Truck/SUV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Morning
in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blue Earth, MN
Morning
in Blue Earth on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 22m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 87.3 miles on US 169. The drive maintains a consistent pace, moving away from suburban traffic and into more open territory as you head south. While the experience is primarily about highway efficiency rather than technical curves, the shifting landscape provides a steady backdrop for your two-hour commute. Behind the wheel, you can expect a reliable, high-speed travel experience that prioritizes directness over winding scenic detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.3 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 212. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,091 ft759 ft
Total Climb
576 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
1,091 ft
~100.5 mi in
Elevation Range
332 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 108.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.3 miles on US 169. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Blue Earth, MN before heading back.
