Origin
Hopkins, MN
Morning in Hopkins on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hopkins, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.9 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hopkins, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 23.9-mile drive from Hopkins to Apple Valley in Minnesota is a quick trip, typically taking around 32 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily composed of highway driving, with 57% of the journey on major roads, so expect a smooth and efficient commute. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this trip is very budget-friendly. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region, staying within the state of Minnesota for the entire duration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 12.9 mi | 16m |
| Cedar Avenue South | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Woodhill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wood Hill Terrace | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 12.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkins, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on Wood Hill Terrace
31 ft
·
3 sec
·
Wood Hill Terrace
2
Turn right onto Woodhill Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Woodhill Road
3
Turn straight onto MN 7
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
4
Continue on MN 7
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
5
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 494
13 mi
·
16 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2C
Toward MN 77 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Killebrew Drive
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward MN 77 South
11
Merge onto MN 77
8.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Cedar Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
CR 42
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Woodhill Road
Turn right onto Woodhill Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 494 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494 South
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.56 one way
$7.11 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.83 | $7.66 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.26 | $8.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 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 | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
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
Apple Valley, MN
Morning in Apple Valley on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°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
22 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
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?
The personality of this drive is largely a mixed one, blending efficient highway travel with some local road navigation. With 57% of the journey on highways, you'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving. The longest uninterrupted segment is 12.9 miles, likely on I-494, offering a chance to settle in. As you transition between I-494, Cedar Avenue South, and Minnesota State Highway 7, you'll notice the road character shift, moving from interstate speeds to more suburban arterials. This blend makes for a dynamic, though not overly challenging, driving experience.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.9 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woodhill Road.
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 8 decision points packed into just 23.9 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: near the start (Woodhill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.9 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 (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.9 miles on I 494. 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 Apple Valley, 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: near the start (Woodhill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Apple Valley, 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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