Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Night in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Inver Grove Heights, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.8 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Eden Prairie, MN to Inver Grove Heights, MN is 23.8 miles and takes about 32 minutes via MN 5, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, making it a simple local commute or quick transit between these two suburban areas. Given its brevity and highway-focused profile, it's an easy drive that doesn't require extensive planning or overnight stays. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state and federal highways, so expect a straightforward journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 5 | 18 mi | 22m |
| US 52 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 70th Street East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 212 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Scenic Heights Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 5
— 18 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Inver Grove Heights, 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
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
18 mi
·
22 min
·
MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 66
Toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 52 South: Rochester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 52
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 52
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CR 26: 70th Street East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CH 26
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
70th Street East
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
CH 26
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 20.9 — 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
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
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.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5 toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
8
20.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
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 66
Toward US 52: Rochester, Saint Paul
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 52 South: Rochester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 52 South: Rochester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.54 one way
$7.08 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.82 | $7.63 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.25 | $8.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.25 | $10.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.08 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Night in Inver Grove Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
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
32m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 18 miles on MN 5, offering a consistent, faster-paced experience. The journey is characterized by its efficiency, designed for direct travel rather than scenic detours. Expect a smooth ride predominantly on good pavement, suitable for maintaining a steady speed for most of the trip.
84% 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: 18 mi on MN 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 5 and US 52. 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
10/10
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 23.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
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 2.1 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eden Prairie, MN and Inver Grove Heights, MN, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Cr 26: 70Th Street East.
Saint Paul
20.1 mi in
|
~26m
Cr 26: 70Th Street East
22.7 mi in
|
~30m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18 miles on MN 5. 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 Inver Grove Heights, 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 2.1 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (MN 5): 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 Inver Grove Heights, 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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