Connecting the Twin Cities suburbs to the Red River Valley, this 233.6-mile trek across Minnesota is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 19 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $33 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Midwestern hubs. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, providing a reliable and predictable travel experience. Whether you are heading west for business or visiting family, this drive is designed for convenience rather than exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116.8 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
210.8 mi
3h 46m
I 494
13.3 mi
16m
70th Street South
2.2 mi
2m
US 10
2.1 mi
3m
Baker Road
1.7 mi
3m
Mitchell Road
1 mi
2m
Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
1m
Crosstown Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 210.8 mi, about 3h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Dilworth, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn left onto Mitchell Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Mitchell Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CR 60
1.7 mi·3 min·Baker Road
4
Turn slight right
288 ft·10 sec
5
Turn slight left onto CR 62
453 ft·9 sec·CR 62
6
Continue on MN 62
458 ft·15 sec·Crosstown Highway
7
Turn left
354 ft·8 sec
Toward I 494 NorthUse the straight / left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 494 North
9
Merge onto I 494
13 mi·16 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
194 mi·3 hr 28 min·I 94
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward MN 336
14
Turn right onto MN 336
2.2 mi·2 min·70th Street South
15
Turn left
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Dilworth
16
Turn straight onto US 10
2.1 mi·3 min·US 10
17
Turn right
72 ft·7 sec
18
Turn right
90 ft·6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable four-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid peak traffic near Eden Prairie. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the long, monotonous stretches of I-94 can lead to fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the metro area, as pricing and availability are most convenient near your starting point. Given the 233.6-mile distance, you might consider timing your single stop near the halfway point to break up the drive effectively. Staying alert during that 210.8-mile interstate stretch is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival in Dilworth.
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 116.8 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.8 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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.8 miles or 2h 11m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dilworth, 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 233.6 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Eden Prairie, 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 I 94 for about 210.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 17.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Mitchell Road
Turn left onto Mitchell Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 494 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 494 North
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 494 North
5
3.9 mi into trip|~8m in|I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.1 mi into trip|~24m 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
$34.76 one way
$69.53 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$37.46
$74.92
premium
$4.53
$41.68
$83.36
diesel
$5.61
$51.58
$103.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.70
$14.95
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Evening
in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dilworth, MN
Evening
in Dilworth on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Avon, MN
117 mi in
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 focused, highway-heavy experience as 97% of your trip takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-94, which accounts for a massive 210.8-mile uninterrupted stretch of your travel. While you begin with short local segments on I-494 and 70th Street South, the character of the drive shifts quickly into a steady, long-distance interstate haul. This is a classic Midwest highway profile that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. Keep your cruise control ready, as the road remains consistent for the duration of the trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 210.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Mitchell Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 233.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,395 ft880 ft
Total Climb
515 ft
Total Descent
488 ft
Highest Point
1,395 ft
~133.5 mi in
Elevation Range
515 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 233.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 210.8 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Dilworth, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Dilworth, MN, but most travelers stay overnight.
