Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maplewood, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Maplewood, MN to Eagan, MN is 18 miles and takes about 28m via I 494, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a convenient local journey. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so expect relatively quick travel times. With no planned stops and a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick, direct trip between two points. Consider this for a simple, no-fuss transfer of people or goods.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| Century Avenue North | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Pilot Knob Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| I 35E | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Innovation Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lake Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Yankee Doodle Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Maplewood, MN and Eagan, MN.
Start on Innovation Boulevard
Turn right onto MN 120
Continue on Lake Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 494
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35E
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 28
Turn left onto CR 31
Continue on CR 31
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 15.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 494 South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 28: Yankee Doodle Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.68 one way
$5.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.89 | $5.77 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Maplewood on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:32PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Late night in Eagan on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:32PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is largely defined by its highway-centric profile, with 61% of the journey on major roadways like I 494. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate driving for a significant portion, including a continuous stretch of 9.3 miles on I 494. While the bulk of the trip is highway, you will also navigate segments on Century Avenue North and Pilot Knob Road, which may offer a slightly different driving experience as you approach your destination. Overall, expect a straightforward drive with minimal traffic complexities, typical of a Midwestern highway corridor.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and Century Avenue North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
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 10 decision points packed into just 18 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Maplewood, MN to Eagan, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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