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Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Waseca, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

74.1 mi

119 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Eden Prairie, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Waseca, MN, MN

Waseca, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Eden Prairie, MN to Waseca, MN covers 74.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35W, State Highway 13, Morristown Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.9 miles on I 35W. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.73 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37 miles from Eden Prairie, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35W 39.9 mi 43m
State Highway 13 9 mi 12m
Morristown Boulevard 7.8 mi 9m
MN 5 6.4 mi 8m
State Highway 60 5.4 mi 6m
North State Street 1.7 mi 3m
Highway 60 West 1 mi 1m
US 212 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 35W — 39.9 mi, about 43m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,306 veh/hr typical · worst 5,021

Quietest

2 AM

~244 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 82 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 Waseca, 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

6.2 mi · 7 min · MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 50 sec · this road
Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
9

Merge onto I 35W

40 mi · 43 min · I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 56 Toward MN 60
11

Keep slight left at fork

251 ft · 8 sec
Exit 56 Toward MN 60 West
12

Turn left onto MN 60; I 35 ALT

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highway 60 West
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Continue on MN 60; I 35 ALT

7.8 mi · 9 min · Morristown Boulevard
14

Continue on MN 60

5.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 60
15

Turn left onto MN 13

9.0 mi · 12 min · State Highway 13
16

Continue on MN 13

1.7 mi · 3 min · North State Street
17

Arrive at destination

MN 13

Trip Plan

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 37 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.9 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 16 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37 miles or 43m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waseca, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Eden Prairie, MN

This is one driving day of about 74.1 miles and 1h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Eden Prairie, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 39.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Faribault, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Faribault, MN

37 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bloomington, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Faribault, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 49.2 — 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
7
8.5 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5B Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
7
49.2 mi into trip | ~57m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MN 60 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 56 Toward MN 60 West

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.73 one way

$23.47 round trip

$4.02/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.28 $12.49 $24.99
premium $4.85 $14.14 $28.29
diesel $5.60 $16.33 $32.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.2 0 $7.78 $3.56
Efficient EV 18.5 0 $6.48 $2.96
EV Truck/SUV 29.6 0 $10.37 $4.74

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Eden Prairie, MN

Night in Eden Prairie on Tuesday

Local time

11:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

N 0 to 5 mph 71% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Destination

Waseca, MN

Night in Waseca on Tuesday

Local time

11:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

ENE 0 to 5 mph 83% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

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

1 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

1h 31m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

74.1 mi in 1h 31m, mostly highway — 39.9 mi of that is on I 35W.

84% 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: 39.9 mi on I 35W.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and State Highway 13. 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

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.1 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 0.9 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,158 ft 828 ft

Total Climb

456 ft

Total Descent

179 ft

Highest Point

1,158 ft

~74.1 mi in

Elevation Range

330 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Eden Prairie, MN

Full guide →

Founded 1858

Eden Prairie is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 74.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 39.9 miles on I 35W. 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 Waseca, 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 Waseca, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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