Origin
Rush City, MN
Evening in Rush City on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rush City, MN to Eden Prairie, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
75.4 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rush City, MN
Tom Fisk
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rush City, MN to Eden Prairie, MN is 75.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via I-35 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, traversing the Midwest region. Given its relatively short distance and primarily highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for efficient travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from Rush City, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 32.3 mi | 34m |
| I 35W | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| MN 100 | 13 mi | 16m |
| I 694 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| US 212 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Crosstown Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West 4th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 32.3 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,239 veh/hr typical · worst 3,777
Quietest
2 AM
~109 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rush City, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.
1
Start on South Eliot Avenue
277 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Eliot Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West 4th Street
3
Continue on Rush Lake Road
452 ft
·
17 sec
·
Rush Lake Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
5
Merge onto I 35
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 694
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MN 100
13 mi
·
16 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward MN 62 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto MN 62
1.7 mi
·
2 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
Trip Plan
With a drive time of about 1 hour 30 minutes, this route offers a lot of flexibility for departure. You can easily leave in the morning and be at your destination with plenty of daylight left. Since it's a shorter drive, you likely won't need to plan for many stops, but there are ample opportunities for fuel and rest along I-35W. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to Eden Prairie, especially during peak commuting hours.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.7 miles from Rush City, MN, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eden Prairie, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rush City, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rush City, MN
This is one driving day of about 75.4 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Rush City, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 32.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.7 miles from Rush City, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 69.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
7
33.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
48.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
7
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
7
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
$11.94 one way
$23.88 round trip
$4.02/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $12.71 | $25.43 |
| premium | $4.85 | $14.39 | $28.78 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.62 | $33.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.60 | $3.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.56 | $4.83 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Evening in Eden Prairie on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m 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 mostly highway, with 92% of the 75.4 miles spent on freeways like I-35 and I-35W. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 32.3 miles on I-35 before transitioning to other major roads. Expect dense exits and merging traffic as you approach the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
92% 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: 32.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 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.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
929 ft
833 ft
Total Climb
107 ft
Total Descent
146 ft
Highest Point
929 ft
~5.4 mi in
Elevation Range
96 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Rush City, MN
Full guide →Arriving in Eden Prairie, MN
Full guide →Founded 1858
Eden Prairie is a suburban city in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 75.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 miles on I 35. 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.5 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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