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Trip from Thief River Falls, 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

5h 47m

Distance

296.5 mi

477 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 35m ★
6 AM
5h 48m
8 AM
6h 14m
10 AM
5h 57m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 13m
8 PM
5h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Pennington County, Minnesota, USA

Thief River Falls, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Eden Prairie, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 301.2-mile journey from Thief River Falls, MN to Eden Prairie, MN is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 5 hours to complete. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with a 0% highway share, making for a more turn-heavy experience. Budget around $43 for fuel for this trip. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited as a day trip, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop. The drive stays within the Midwest region, keeping the scenery consistent as you travel south.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

148.2 miles from Thief River Falls, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 59 85 mi 1h 36m
West Mason Avenue 78.4 mi 1h 29m
US 10 71.1 mi 1h 22m
I 94 21.1 mi 22m
I 494 13.5 mi 16m
3rd Street East 9.5 mi 11m
Ash Avenue Northwest 7.3 mi 8m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 59 — 85 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thief River Falls, MN and Eden Prairie, MN.

1

Start on US 59

9.5 mi · 11 min · 3rd Street East
2

Turn left onto US 59

85 mi · 1 hr 36 min · US 59
3

Turn left onto US 10

45 mi · 51 min · US 10
4

Enter roundabout

103 ft · 1 sec
5

Continue

66 ft · 0 sec
6

Turn straight onto US 10

7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest
7

Continue on US 10

78 mi · 1 hr 29 min · West Mason Avenue
Use the right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

26 mi · 30 min · US 10
9

Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast
10

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast
11

Continue on County Road 11

0.7 mi · 57 sec · County Road 11
12

Turn right onto MN 25

0.1 mi · 11 sec · State Highway 25
13

Continue on MN 25

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Pine Street
14

Turn left onto CR 75

1.5 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street East
15

Turn right onto CR 18

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue
16

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
17

Merge onto I 94

21 mi · 22 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Exit 216 Toward I 494 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 494

14 mi · 16 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 13 Toward MN 62, CR 62 Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn right onto CR 62

0.1 mi · 20 sec · CR 62
Use the right lane.
22

Turn left onto CR 60

1.7 mi · 3 min · Baker Road
Use the left lane.
23

Continue on CR 60

1.0 mi · 2 min · Mitchell Road
24

Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
25

Arrive at destination

Scenic Heights Road

Trip Plan

For this 301.2-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Thief River Falls to make the most of your 5-hour travel window and arrive in Eden Prairie with ample daylight. With a single stop recommended, plan to take a break about halfway through your journey to stretch and refuel, keeping your $43 fuel budget in mind. Since this is a local drive with many turns, pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially when navigating through towns. The flexibility of this one-day trip allows you to adjust your pace as needed.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.2 miles from Thief River Falls, MN, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 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 65 miles or 1h 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 148.2 miles or 2h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 39m

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 Thief River Falls, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Thief River Falls, MN

This is one driving day of about 296.5 miles and 5h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Thief River Falls, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 59 for about 85 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Morrison County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Little Falls, MN

148 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

Mahnomen, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Park Rapids, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.2 miles from Thief River Falls, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Corner Collective

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Frazee, Minnesota

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 107.6

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+12183342550

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

The Monarch Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Frazee, Minnesota

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 107.6

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+12183344450

Corner Collective

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 107.6

Frazee, Minnesota

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+12183342550

Visit website

Mallards Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately mile 301.2

Shakopee, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19528557779

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 279.7

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

The Monarch Coffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 107.6

Frazee, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+12183344450

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 236.7

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Engelstad Pioneer Village

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

+12186815767

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 279.7

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 236.7

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 139.5 and 293.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
139.5 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
278.8 mi into trip | ~5h 22m in

Take the exit toward I 494 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 216 Toward I 494 South
8
292.8 mi into trip | ~5h 40m in

Take the exit toward MN 62, CR 62

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13 Toward MN 62, CR 62
6
293.1 mi into trip | ~5h 40m in | CR 62

Turn right onto CR 62

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
293.2 mi into trip | ~5h 41m in | CR 60 / Baker Road

Turn left onto CR 60 / Baker Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.12 one way

$88.25 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $47.55 $95.09
premium $4.53 $52.90 $105.81
diesel $5.61 $65.46 $130.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 89 1 $31.13 $14.23
Efficient EV 74.1 0 $25.94 $11.86
EV Truck/SUV 118.6 1 $41.51 $18.98

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Thief River Falls, MN

Evening in Thief River Falls on Saturday

Local time

8:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eden Prairie, MN

Evening in Eden Prairie on Saturday

Local time

8:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

40°F

Little Falls, MN

148 mi in

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

12 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

5h 47m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 for the entirety of this 301.2-mile route. With no highway mileage, you'll be engaging with a variety of local roads, including Ash Avenue Northwest and West Mason Avenue, throughout your 5-hour journey. This means frequent changes in speed and direction, offering a more interactive driving experience compared to an interstate cruise. The absence of long highway stretches means you won't encounter monotonous segments, but rather a continuous series of local road navigation.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85 mi on US 59.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and West Mason Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 139.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 296.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 139.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 278.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 292.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 296.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 85 miles on US 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 139.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 278.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 292.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Eden Prairie, MN before the return drive.

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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