Origin
Oakdale, MN
Late night in Oakdale on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakdale, MN to Apple Valley, 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
32m
Distance
24.7 mi
40 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakdale, MN
Tom Fisk
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 24.7-mile journey from Oakdale, MN to Apple Valley, MN is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 32 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with Interstate 494 and Interstate 35E forming the backbone of your drive, supplemented by Cedar Avenue. With a highway share of 77%, expect a focused driving experience rather than a leisurely cruise. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is a modest $4, making it an economical option for getting between these two Midwest locations within Minnesota. No overnight stays are recommended for this efficient drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 12.2 mi | 15m |
| I 35E | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Cedar Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| I 694 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| County Road 42 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 12.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakdale, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on CH 10
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
10th Street North
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 694 South
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 694
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 694
4
Continue on I 494
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 494
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35E
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 92
Toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto MN 77
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
CR 42
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 21.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 70
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Albert Lea, Sa...
7
13.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
7
20.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 92
Toward MN 77: Cedar Avenue
7
20.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward MN 77 South: Cedar Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.68 one way
$7.35 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.96 | $7.92 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.41 | $8.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.45 | $10.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.19 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Apple Valley, MN
Late night in Apple Valley on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°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
6 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
32m 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 drive is decidedly highway-focused, with 77% of the 24.7 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 12.2 miles on I 494, offering a consistent, fast-paced journey. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of Cedar Avenue suggests a brief transition to a more arterial road as you approach your destination. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal complexity, characterized by efficient travel through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on I 494.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 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 10 decision points packed into just 24.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Oakdale, MN to Apple Valley, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
13.4 mi in
|
~17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 24.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 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 Apple Valley, 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 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 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 Apple Valley, 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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