Traveling from Fairfax to Eagan covers 89.5 miles of Minnesota landscape, typically requiring about 1 hour and 40 minutes of driving time. Because this is a relatively short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the journey, making it an affordable trek across the Midwest. The route relies on local roads like Lincoln Avenue East and Highway 15 rather than long stretches of interstate. It is a straightforward trip that allows you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay, providing plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Fairfax, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 212
50.3 mi
1h
Lincoln Avenue East
17.2 mi
23m
State Highway 15
12.6 mi
15m
MN 5
9.2 mi
11m
Cedar Avenue South
3.1 mi
3m
Diffley Road
2.7 mi
5m
Pilot Knob Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Park Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 50.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, MN and Eagan, MN.
1
Start on Park Street North
46 ft·7 sec·Park Street North
2
Turn left onto MN 19
17 mi·23 min·Lincoln Avenue East
3
Turn left onto MN 15
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 15
4
Turn right onto US 212
13 mi·15 min·US 212
5
Enter roundabout onto US 212
156 ft·2 sec·US 212
6
Continue on US 212
10 mi·11 min·US 212
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 212
27 mi·32 min·US 212
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto MN 5
0.2 mi·17 sec·MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 5
9.0 mi·11 min·MN 5
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 2CToward MN 77 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Killebrew DriveUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward MN 77 South
13
Merge onto MN 77
3.1 mi·3 min·Cedar Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 4Toward CR 30: Diffley RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto CR 30
0.7 mi·1 min·Diffley Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto CR 30
84 ft·1 sec·Diffley Road
17
Continue on CR 30
2.0 mi·3 min·Diffley Road
18
Turn right onto CR 31
0.1 mi·41 sec·Pilot Knob Road
19
Continue on CR 31
513 ft·9 sec·Pilot Knob Road
20
Arrive at destination
CR 31
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 1 hour and 40-minute drive, you have the freedom to depart whenever it best suits your plans without worrying about strict pacing. You will not need to plan for any mandatory stops given the short distance, allowing for a direct arrival in Eagan. Keep in mind that because this route relies entirely on local roads, you should factor in extra time if you encounter local traffic or slower speeds through intersections. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to ensure your navigation is set before leaving Fairfax, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires careful attention to the transitions between Lincoln Avenue East and Highway 15.
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 48.4 miles from Fairfax, MN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.3 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 1h 1m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagan, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, MN
This is one driving day of about 96.9 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fairfax, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 212 for about 50.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 80.2 and 93.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward MN 77 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward MN 77 South
8
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 77 South: Killebrew Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward MN 77 South: Killebrew Drive
7
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward CR 30: Diffley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward CR 30: Diffley Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.42 one way
$28.84 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$15.54
$31.08
premium
$4.53
$17.29
$34.58
diesel
$5.61
$21.39
$42.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.1
0
$10.17
$4.65
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.48
$3.88
EV Truck/SUV
38.8
0
$13.57
$6.20
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Fairfax, MN
Late night
in Fairfax on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eagan, MN
Late night
in Eagan on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live 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
25 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 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, this journey keeps you off the major interstates and focused on the nuances of regional roads. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent, favoring local navigation over high-speed stretches. The route requires your active attention as you transition between Lincoln Avenue East and Highway 15. Because there are no major highway bursts, you can anticipate a steady pace that reflects the character of the local Minnesota terrain.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.3 mi on US 212.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and Lincoln Avenue East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 80.2 miles in near MN 5.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 96.9 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 80.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Eagan is a city of 69,000 people (2021) in Minnesota on the south bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from the confluence with the Mississippi River. It is a suburb in the southern part of the Twin Cities region.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 96.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.3 miles on US 212. 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 Eagan, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 80.2 miles (MN 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (MN 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.4 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 Eagan, MN before heading back.
