Origin
Chaska, MN
Afternoon in Chaska on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chaska, MN to Apple Valley, MN
Drive Time
34m
Distance
21.3 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chaska, MN
Tom Fisk
Apple Valley, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Chaska and Apple Valley, you are in for a quick 21.3-mile trip that typically takes about 34 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the journey, making it a very economical commute within the Minnesota Midwest. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will want to keep your eyes on the road rather than relying on autopilot. It is a straightforward transit that connects two distinct communities without the need for complex travel logistics.
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
10.6 miles from Chaska, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy experience on this local drive, as the route avoids highways entirely. You will spend your time navigating through 140th Street Northwest and 140th Street Northeast, with the longest uninterrupted segment being a 5.8-mile stretch on County Road 42 West. Since the highway share is zero percent, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and intersection management rather than high-speed cruising. The character of the road changes frequently as you transition between these local thoroughfares. This is not the type of drive where you can settle into a monotonous interstate rhythm, so stay alert and ready to navigate several turns throughout the 34-minute duration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Road 42 West is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 61 / West 6th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 61 / West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MN 41 / North Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (CR 78 / 130th Street West): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 61 / West 6th Street
Continue onto CR 61 / West 6th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MN 41 / North Chestnut Street
Turn right onto MN 41 / North Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 78 / 130th Street West
Enter roundabout onto CR 78 / 130th Street West
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
CR 78 / East County Road 78
Enter roundabout onto CR 78 / East County Road 78
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
CR 17 / Marschall Road
Turn right onto CR 17 / Marschall Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 42 West | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| 140th Street Northeast | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| 140th Street Northwest | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Egan Drive | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Chestnut Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| 130th Street West | 2 mi | 2m |
| Marschall Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East County Road 78 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
County Road 42 West
— 5.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chaska, MN and Apple Valley, MN.
1
Start on CR 61
317 ft
·
14 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Continue on CR 61
417 ft
·
22 sec
·
West 6th Street
3
Turn right onto MN 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on MN 41
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Chestnut Boulevard
5
Continue on CR 78
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
County Road 78
6
Continue on CR 78
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Chestnut Boulevard
7
Enter roundabout onto CR 78
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
130th Street West
8
Continue on CR 78
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
130th Street West
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 78
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
East County Road 78
10
Continue on CR 78
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East County Road 78
11
Turn right onto CR 17
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marschall Road
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
13
Continue on CR 42
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
140th Street Northwest
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on CR 42
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
140th Street Northeast
Use the left / none lanes.
15
Continue on CR 42
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Egan Drive
Use the left / none lanes.
16
Continue on CR 42
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
County Road 42 West
Use the none lane.
17
Arrive at destination
CR 42
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, localized trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for local traffic patterns on these secondary roads. You will not need to plan for any formal stops during the 21.3-mile trek, as the duration is manageable in one go. Keep your $3 fuel budget in mind, but ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent turns rather than sustained highway speeds. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation system active, as the reliance on 140th Street and County Road 42 requires constant attention to turning points. Enjoy the ease of this quick transition across the region.
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 10.6 miles from Chaska, MN, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.8 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 21.3 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.6 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apple Valley, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chaska, 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 Chaska, MN
This is one driving day of about 21.3 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chaska, 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 County Road 42 West for about 5.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.6 mi from Chaska, MN · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.6 miles from Chaska, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apple Valley, MN
The final approach into Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, 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
$3.05 one way
$6.09 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
| premium | $4.39 | $3.68 | $7.37 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.73 | $9.46 |
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: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $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
Apple Valley, MN
Afternoon in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m 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 Chaska, MN to Apple Valley, MN covers 21.3 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Road 42 West, 140th Street Northeast, 140th Street Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.6 miles from Chaska, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.05 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 straightforward 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 61 / West 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MN 41 / North Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (CR 78 / 130th Street West): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Chaska, MN to Apple Valley, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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