Origin
Oak Park Heights, MN
Night in Oak Park Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Park Heights, MN to Eden Prairie, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
42.9 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Oak Park Heights to Eden Prairie is 42.9 miles and takes about 59m via MN 36 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a fairly straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a good option for a quick relocation or a day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect consistent speeds and efficient travel. Plan for a single-day journey, as the distance is quite manageable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 36 | 19.6 mi | 24m |
| I 35W | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Crosstown Highway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| US 212 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| 60th Street North (South Frontage Road) | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Scenic Heights Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Penrose Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 36
— 19.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Park Heights, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 57th Street North
72 ft
·
5 sec
·
57th Street North
3
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Penrose Avenue North
4
At end of road, turn left onto CH 23
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
60th Street North (South Frontage Road)
5
Turn right
282 ft
·
20 sec
6
Turn right onto CH 24
224 ft
·
8 sec
·
Osgood Ave North
7
Turn left onto MN 36
20 mi
·
24 min
·
MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35W
10 mi
·
13 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 11
Toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MN 62 East, MN 62 West, CR 35: Portland Avenue, Lyndale Avenue
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward MN 62 West: Lyndale Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto MN 62
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Crosstown Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 212
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 212
Exit 106A
Toward US 212
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mitchell Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Scenic Heights Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Oak Park Heights, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 30.7 and 41.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
30.7 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
31.1 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
31.4 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
37.2 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.77 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.88 | $13.76 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.65 | $15.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.50 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Eden Prairie, MN
Night in Eden Prairie on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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
59m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 19.6 miles on MN 36, which sets the tone for the initial part of your journey. As you transition to I-35W and then the Crosstown Highway, the character remains largely consistent with fast-paced, high-volume traffic. Expect a steady drive with minimal interruptions, designed for efficient travel between these two Minnesota communities. The road's personality is built for speed and directness, rather than winding scenic exploration.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.6 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 30.7 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 42.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 42.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.6 miles on MN 36. 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 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 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles: 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 Eden Prairie, 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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