Origin
Afton, MN
Afternoon in Afton on Sunday
Local time
4:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Afton, MN to Eden Prairie, MN
Drive Time
50m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Afton, MN
Tom Fisk
Eden Prairie, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward commute across the Twin Cities metro, the 36.4-mile trip from Afton to Eden Prairie is a practical choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 50 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should cover your needs for the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition between these Minnesota communities. It is a no-nonsense route that favors efficiency over sightseeing, ideal for those who prefer to keep their travel time predictable and manageable.
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
18.2 miles from Afton, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to major arterials as you move across the region. You will spend about 55% of your trip on highways, with a significant portion of the journey utilizing I-494. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 18.3-mile run on I-494, which serves as the backbone of this route. Navigating the Wakota Bridge and Bailey Road provides a change of pace from the interstate grind. Overall, the road personality shifts from quieter local paths to a busier, high-speed flow, requiring you to stay alert as traffic density fluctuates throughout the drive.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 494 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 36.4 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 12.3 miles (I 494 / Wakota Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 494 / Wakota Bridge
Merge onto I 494 / Wakota Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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
33.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
MN 5
Take the exit onto MN 5 toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 18.3 mi | 22m |
| Bailey Road | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| Wakota Bridge | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| 40th Street South | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Afton Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| MN 5 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Maxwell Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mitchell Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 18.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Afton, MN and Eden Prairie, 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
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 494
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 494; MN 5
16
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 5
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CR 60: Mitchell Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CR 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mitchell Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
Use the right lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Scenic Heights Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 50-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the heavy reliance on I-494, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure you maintain a steady pace. Since there are no required stops, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to refuel mid-route. One concrete tip for this drive is to keep an eye on traffic reports for the I-494 corridor, as congestion can quickly impact your travel time. Focus on smooth lane changes while traversing the highway sections to make the trip as stress-free as possible.
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 18.2 miles from Afton, MN, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.3 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 36.4 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.2 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
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 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 36.4 miles and 50m.
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 I 494 for about 18.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from Afton, MN · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Afton, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Eden Prairie, MN
The final approach into Eden Prairie, 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 Eden Prairie, 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
$5.21 one way
$10.41 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $5.62 | $11.24 |
| premium | $4.39 | $6.29 | $12.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.09 | $16.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
4:24 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
50m 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 Eden Prairie, MN covers 36.4 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 494, Bailey Road, Wakota Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.2 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 $5.21 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 14 significant decision points across 36.4 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 12.3 miles (I 494 / Wakota Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 494): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Afton, MN to Eden Prairie, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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