Origin
Apple Valley, MN
Evening in Apple Valley on Thursday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Apple Valley, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
50m
Distance
37.1 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Apple Valley, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Park Heights, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Apple Valley, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN covers 37.1 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 494, MN 36, I 35E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.1 miles on I 494. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 37.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 50m highway drive covering 37.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 494 and MN 36. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.1 miles on I 494.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 12.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and MN 36. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 13 decision points packed into just 37.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto CR 23 / Cedar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, I 494 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99A-B
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
8
10 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 494 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99A
Toward I 494 East
7
28.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52B
Toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| MN 36 | 7.4 mi | 9m |
| I 35E | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| I 694 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Cedar Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| 60th Street North (South Frontage Road) | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Penrose Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 59th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 12.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, MN and Oak Park Heights, MN.
1
Start on CR 42
35 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 42
2
Turn right onto CR 23
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2A
Toward I 35E North: Saint Paul
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 35E
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 99A-B
Toward I 494 West, I 494 East
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 99A
Toward I 494 East
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 494
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on I 694
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 52B
Toward MN 36 East: Stillwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto MN 36
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
MN 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CH 24
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Osgood Avenue North
12
Turn left onto CH 26
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
59th Street North
13
Continue on CH 26
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
60th Street North (South Frontage Road)
14
Turn right onto Penrose Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Penrose Avenue North
15
Turn left onto 57th Street North
72 ft
·
4 sec
·
57th Street North
16
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.5 mi from Apple Valley, MN · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Apple Valley, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oak Park Heights, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Oak Park Heights, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.52 one way
$11.04 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.95 | $11.90 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
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
Oak Park Heights, MN
Evening in Oak Park Heights on Thursday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
21 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 Apple Valley, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN covers 37.1 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, MN 36, I 35E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.5 miles from Apple Valley, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.52 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 37.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 23 / Cedar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Apple Valley, MN to Oak Park Heights, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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