Origin
Burnsville, MN
Afternoon in Burnsville on Friday
Local time
1:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burnsville, MN to Minnetonka, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burnsville, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Minnetonka, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 21.2-mile drive from Burnsville, MN to Minnetonka, MN is easily manageable as a day trip, taking only about 28 minutes. With 89% of the journey on highways, expect a straightforward commute focused on efficiency. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $3, reflecting the short distance. Since you'll be staying within the Midwest region of Minnesota, the scenery will be consistent with the familiar prairie landscape. This route is ideal for those needing a quick, no-fuss transition between these two Twin Cities suburbs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 21.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with nearly all of your 21.2 miles spent on major interstates. You'll primarily navigate via I-494 and I-35W, experiencing the character of these busy thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 10.5 miles on I-494, offering a period of consistent speed and minimal disruption. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of Minnesota State Highway 7 at points suggests a slight shift in pace as you approach your destination, though the overall feel remains that of an efficient, high-speed connection.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 10.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 9 decision points packed into just 21.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
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 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 494; MN 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
18.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward MN 7 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward MN 7 West
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 10.5 mi | 13m |
| I 35W | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Nicollet Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| MN 13 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| County Road 101 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 10.5 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnsville, MN and Minnetonka, MN.
1
Start on Nicollet Avenue South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicollet Avenue South
2
Turn left onto MN 13
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 13
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 35W North: Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 35W
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8B-C
Toward I 494 East, MN 5 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
7
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 16B
Toward MN 7 West
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto MN 7
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
11
Turn left onto CR 101
239 ft
·
10 sec
·
County Road 101
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
CR 101
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.15 one way
$6.31 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
| premium | $4.53 | $3.78 | $7.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Minnetonka, MN
Afternoon in Minnetonka on Friday
Local time
1:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m 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 Burnsville, MN to Minnetonka, MN covers 21.2 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 494, I 35W, Minnesota State Highway 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.6 miles from Burnsville, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.15 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 9 decision points packed into just 21.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Burnsville, MN to Minnetonka, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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