Mahtomedi to Eden Prairie is 37.6 miles and takes about 53 minutes via MN 36 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region and the state of Minnesota, offering a straightforward commute. Most of the trip is on highways, making it a quick connection between these two points. It's a practical option for moving between these suburban areas without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MN 36
12.3 mi
15m
I 35W
10.1 mi
13m
Crosstown Highway
5.5 mi
6m
US 212
4.4 mi
5m
Hilton Trail North
1.4 mi
2m
East Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Mitchell Road
0.5 mi
1m
Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
MN 36
— 12.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mahtomedi, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on Griffin Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Griffin Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Iris Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Iris Street
3
Turn right onto Hallam Avenue North
296 ft·17 sec·Hallam Avenue North
4
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Hickory Street
5
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Avenue
6
Turn left onto CH 12
0.1 mi·18 sec·Stillwater Road
7
Turn right onto CH 29
1.4 mi·2 min·Hilton Trail North
Use the straight lane.
8
Enter roundabout
125 ft·5 sec
Toward MN 36 West
9
Continue
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward MN 36 West
10
Merge onto MN 36
12 mi·15 min·MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35W
10 mi·13 min·I 35W
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 11Toward MN 62 East, MN 62 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Mahtomedi, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|CH 29 / Hilton Trail North
Turn right onto CH 29 / Hilton Trail North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
25.5 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West
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.
Exit 11
Toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West
6
25.8 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West, CR 35: Portland Avenue, Lyndale Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West, CR 35: Portland...
7
26.1 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 62 West: Lyndale Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 62 West: Lyndale Avenue
7
31.9 mi into trip|~44m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.14 one way
$12.27 round trip
$4.15/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$6.61
$13.21
premium
$4.95
$7.33
$14.66
diesel
$5.97
$8.83
$17.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.3
0
$3.95
$1.80
Efficient EV
9.4
0
$3.29
$1.50
EV Truck/SUV
15
0
$5.26
$2.41
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 11, 2026
Origin
Mahtomedi, MN
Night
in Mahtomedi on Friday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 10 to 20 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 11 at 2:38PM CDT until September 11 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Eden Prairie, MN
Night
in Eden Prairie on Friday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 20 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 11 at 2:38PM CDT until September 11 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
24 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
53m 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 mostly highway, with 71% of the 37.6 miles on faster roads. You'll experience a solid stretch of 12.3 miles on MN 36 before merging onto I-35W and the Crosstown Highway. Expect dense exits and traffic as you navigate these major arteries, particularly as you approach the Minneapolis area.
71% 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: 12.3 mi on MN 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 36 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near CH 29 / Hilton Trail North.
Driving Effort10/10
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 17 decision points packed into just 37.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (CH 29 / Hilton Trail North): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on MN 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Eden Prairie, 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 1.3 miles (CH 29 / Hilton Trail North): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eden Prairie, MN before heading back.
