Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Late night in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Crystal, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Crystal, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Eden Prairie to Crystal, you are looking at a straightforward 17.4-mile journey. This transit typically takes about 25 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate through the Midwest using a combination of Mitchell Road, US 212 East, and US 169 South. Because the total fuel cost is estimated at just $2, it is a highly economical route for a quick commute or local visit. There is no need for an overnight stay, as the distance is short enough to handle easily in one sitting. It serves as a practical connection between these two Minnesota communities without requiring extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 10 mi | 12m |
| US 212 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Scenic Heights Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Crosstown Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 10 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Crystal, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn left onto Mitchell Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Mitchell Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 212 East, MN 5 East
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 162
Toward US 169 South, US 169 North: Gleason Road
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto MN 62
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
Crosstown Highway
7
Take the exit
255 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
9
Merge onto US 169
10 mi
·
12 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CR 9
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
42nd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
CR 9
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 15.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 212 East, MN 5 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 212 East, MN 5 East
8
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward US 169 South, US 169 North: Gleason Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 162
Toward US 169 South, US 169 North: Gleason Road
8
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward US 169 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
7
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 169 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward CR 9 West: Rockford Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.59 one way
$5.18 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.79 | $5.58 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.10 | $6.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Crystal, MN
Late night in Crystal on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending your time on long, monotonous stretches of open road. Instead, your focus will be on navigating local intersections and changing road patterns as you move between Eden Prairie and Crystal. The character of this route is defined by its technical nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between the specified main roads. Since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10 miles on US 169. 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 Crystal, 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 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 Crystal, MN before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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