Origin
Hopkins, MN
Morning in Hopkins on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hopkins, MN to Eagan, 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
31m
Distance
21.8 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hopkins, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 21.8-mile drive from Hopkins to Eagan, Minnesota, is easily manageable in about 31 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I 494 and Cedar Avenue South, with a brief section on Diffley Road. With a projected fuel cost of just $3, this is a budget-friendly journey. The route is mostly highway-focused, offering a straightforward connection between two points within the Midwest region. Consider this an efficient commute rather than a scenic adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 12.9 mi | 16m |
| Cedar Avenue South | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Diffley Road | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Pilot Knob Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Woodhill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wood Hill Terrace | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 12.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkins, MN and Eagan, 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
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Cedar Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 4
Toward CR 30: Diffley Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 30
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Diffley Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto CR 30
84 ft
·
1 sec
·
Diffley Road
15
Continue on CR 30
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Diffley Road
16
Turn right onto CR 31
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pilot Knob Road
17
Continue on CR 31
513 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pilot Knob Road
18
Arrive at destination
CR 31
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.5 — 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.
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
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
$3.24 one way
$6.49 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.50 | $6.99 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.89 | $7.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.81 | $9.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
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
Eagan, MN
Morning in Eagan on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
31m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 63% of this trip. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 494, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.9 miles. The route transitions from interstate cruising to more local road segments as you approach your destination. While not a winding, technical drive, it offers a consistent pace for most of the journey.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and Cedar Avenue South. 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 13 decision points packed into just 21.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
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 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Eagan, MN
Full guide →Founded 1860
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.
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 31m. Total distance: 21.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). 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 Eagan, 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 14.4 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.
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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