Eden Prairie, MN to Thomson, MN is 154.1 miles and takes about 2h 54m via I 35W and I 35, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing Minnesota for its entirety. Given its mostly highway profile, you can expect a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
103 mi
1h 50m
I 35W
19.8 mi
21m
MN 100
13.2 mi
16m
I 694
5.3 mi
5m
US 212
4.4 mi
5m
MN 210
3.7 mi
5m
Crosstown Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 103 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,777
Quietest
2 AM
~109 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Thomson, 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 EastUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
4.4 mi·5 min·US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on MN 62
1.9 mi·2 min·Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 108BToward MN 100 NorthUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto MN 100
13 mi·16 min·MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 694 East
9
Merge onto I 694
5.3 mi·5 min·I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 41BToward I 35W NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35W
3.0 mi·3 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 35
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 235Toward MN 210: Cromwell, Carlton
15
Turn right onto MN 210
3.7 mi·5 min·MN 210
16
Turn left onto Dalles Avenue
292 ft·8 sec·Dalles Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Dalles Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 2h 54m drive, departing mid-morning gives you flexibility. The 154.1-mile route is easily managed in one day, so you can take your time. Plan for one stop to break up the 103-mile stretch on I 35, perhaps for fuel or a quick stretch. The estimated fuel cost is around $25. Keep an eye out for the transition away from the interstate as you approach Thomson, as this marks the end of the high-speed cruising.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thomson, 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 154.1 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 35 for about 103 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 0.9 and 150 — 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
7.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward MN 100 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 108B
Toward MN 100 North
7
27 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 35W North
6
30.2 mi into trip|~39m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
150 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward MN 210: Cromwell, Carlton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 235
Toward MN 210: Cromwell, Carlton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.78 one way
$51.57 round trip
$4.25/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.53
$27.46
$54.93
premium
$5.11
$31.00
$61.99
diesel
$6.28
$38.08
$76.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
Efficient EV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
EV Truck/SUV
61.6
0
$21.57
$9.86
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Morning
in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Thomson, MN
Morning
in Thomson on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
14 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
2h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is predominantly on highways, with 97% of the 154.1 miles taking place on major routes like I 35W and I 35. You'll experience a substantial stretch of 103 miles on I 35 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will occur closer to your destination in Thomson. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the interstate portions.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 154.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 154.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m 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 103 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Thomson, 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. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 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 Thomson, MN before heading back.
