Origin
Afton, MN
Afternoon in Afton on Sunday
Local time
4:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Afton, MN to Eagan, MN
Drive Time
36m
Distance
24.3 mi
39 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Afton, MN
Tom Fisk
Eagan, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Afton and Eagan, this 24.3-mile trip is a quick and efficient way to cross the region. Expect to spend about 36 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical commute within the Midwest. While the route is short, it serves as a functional link between these two Minnesota locations. Because there are no designated stops, you can easily complete the drive in one go without the need for extensive planning. It is a practical, no-nonsense path for anyone needing to navigate between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.1 miles from Afton, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a turn-heavy local personality that keeps you engaged as you navigate through the area. You will spend roughly 22 miles of the journey on highways, including a transit over the Wakota Bridge and a stretch on I-494. The longest uninterrupted section is a 7.2-mile run along Bailey Road, which offers a brief respite from the more technical turns found elsewhere. Transitioning from local roads to the interstate requires you to stay alert to changing traffic patterns. Overall, the drive balances quick highway segments with the winding nature of local navigation, resulting in a varied experience behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bailey Road is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 24.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 494 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 494 West
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 494
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.9 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
19.2 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
21.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CR 28: Yankee Doodle Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 97B
Toward CR 28: Yankee Doodle Road
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Afton, MN to Eagan, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
18.9 mi in
|
~27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bailey Road | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| I 494 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Wakota Bridge | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| 40th Street South | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Pilot Knob Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Afton Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 35E | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Maxwell Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bailey Road
— 7.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Afton, MN and Eagan, MN.
1
Start on CH 18
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Afton Boulevard
2
Continue on CH 18
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
40th Street South
3
Continue on CH 18
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Bailey Road
4
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
5
Continue on CH 18
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Bailey Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
122 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
7
Continue on CH 18
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bailey Road
8
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
146 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bailey Road
9
Continue on CH 18
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Bailey Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CH 18
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maxwell Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 494 West
12
Continue on Wakota Bridge
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Wakota Bridge
Toward I 494 West
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 494
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Wakota Bridge
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 494
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35E South: Albert Lea
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 35E
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35E
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 97B
Toward CR 28: Yankee Doodle Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CR 28
510 ft
·
11 sec
·
Yankee Doodle Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto CR 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Pilot Knob Road
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on CR 31
513 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pilot Knob Road
22
Arrive at destination
CR 31
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 36-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the trip is under 25 miles, you won't need to worry about mid-route rest stops or complex fueling logistics. A $3 fuel budget means you can easily top off your tank before you leave Afton to ensure a stress-free trip. Pay close attention to your navigation as you transition onto the Wakota Bridge, as the local road segments require frequent adjustments. Use the brevity of this drive to your advantage by keeping your schedule open and enjoying the ease of a quick Minnesota commute.
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 12.1 miles from Afton, MN, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.2 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 24.3 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.1 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagan, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Afton, 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 Afton, MN
This is one driving day of about 24.3 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Afton, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Bailey Road for about 7.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.1 mi from Afton, MN · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 24.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from Afton, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Eagan, MN
The final approach into Eagan, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Eagan, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.48 one way
$6.95 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $3.75 | $7.50 |
| premium | $4.39 | $4.20 | $8.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.40 | $10.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
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
Eagan, MN
Afternoon in Eagan on Sunday
Local time
4:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
31 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
36m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Afton, MN to Eagan, MN covers 24.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bailey Road, I 494, Wakota Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 miles from Afton, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 24.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Afton, MN to Eagan, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
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