Origin
North Mankato, MN
Morning in North Mankato on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Mankato, MN to Edina, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
71.5 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Mankato, MN
Tom Fisk
Edina, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from North Mankato to Edina, expect a straightforward 71-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or hotel bookings. Budgeting around $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your travel costs for this Midwest transit. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. You will navigate through local roads like Lor Ray Drive before transitioning onto US 169 and MN 41 to reach your destination. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Minnesota communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 61.5 mi | 1h 13m |
| MN 100 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| I 494 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 130th Street West | 1 mi | 1m |
| Marystown Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 14 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lor Ray Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Mankato, MN and Edina, MN.
1
Start on Lee Boulevard
51 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lee Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Lor Ray Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lor Ray Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto US 14
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 14
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 169, MN 60: Minneapolis, Mankato, North Mankato
6
Merge onto US 169
21 mi
·
26 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 169; MN 93
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 169; MN 93
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 169
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
10
Keep slight right at fork
264 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
11
Turn straight onto CR 78
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
County Road 78
12
Continue on CR 78
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Chestnut Boulevard
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 78
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
130th Street West
14
Continue on CR 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
130th Street West
15
Turn left onto CR 15
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marystown Road
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 169 North
17
Merge onto US 169
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 169
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 7A
Toward MN 100
Use the right lane.
22
Merge onto MN 100
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
MN 100
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from North Mankato, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 169 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.5 miles.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 52.1 and 69.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
7
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward MN 41, CR 78: Chaska
6
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 169
Keep slight left at fork onto US 169
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
66.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit 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 slight right lane.
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
7
69.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward MN 100
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.64 one way
$21.28 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.47 | $22.93 |
| premium | $4.53 | $12.76 | $25.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.79 | $31.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.51 | $3.43 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.01 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Edina, MN
Morning in Edina on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
26 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
1h 29m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise on this 71-mile stretch. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will spend your time navigating local roads and secondary connectors rather than wide-open interstates. This creates a more engaged driving experience where you need to stay attentive to turns and intersections. Because the route is comprised entirely of local roads, the pace remains steady and consistent throughout the hour-long duration. You won't find yourself settling into a long, monotonous stretch, as the road character demands consistent focus from the driver from start to finish.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on US 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and MN 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (US 169): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Mankato, MN to Edina, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 78: Chaska along the way.
Cr 78: Chaska
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 71.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on US 169. 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 Edina, 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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.7 miles (US 169): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Edina, 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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