Origin
Eagan, MN
Evening in Eagan on Monday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
59.2 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN covers 59.2 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Diffley Road, MN 77 North, Cedar Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.47 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
29.6 miles from Eagan, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 15m drive with frequent turns across 59.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Diffley Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN is easy. At 1h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diffley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 77 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cedar Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 494 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jefferson Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Diffley Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Big Lake, MN.
1
Start on Pilot Knob Road
223 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pilot Knob Road
2
Turn left onto Diffley Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Diffley Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Diffley Road
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Diffley Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto Diffley Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Diffley Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward MN 77 North: Cedar Avenue
305 ft
·
8 sec
·
MN 77 North: Cedar Avenue
6
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Cedar Avenue
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 494 West, MN 5 West
9
Merge slight left
8.8 mi
·
11 min
10
Keep slight left
16 mi
·
19 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Saint Cloud
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 94 West: Saint Cloud
12
Continue straight
17 mi
·
18 min
13
Keep slight left
6.0 mi
·
6 min
14
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
15
Turn right onto Pine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Street
16
Continue on State Highway 25
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 25
17
Turn left onto Jefferson Boulevard
266 ft
·
43 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
18
Turn uturn onto Jefferson Boulevard
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 29.6 miles from Eagan, MN, or about 37m into the drive.
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 59.2 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.6 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eagan, 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 Eagan, MN
This is one driving day of about 59.2 miles and 1h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Eagan, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.6 mi from Eagan, MN · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 59.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.6 miles from Eagan, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Lake, MN
The final approach into Big Lake, 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 Big Lake, 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
$8.47 one way
$16.93 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
| premium | $4.39 | $10.24 | $20.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.15 | $26.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.29 | $3.79 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Big Lake, MN
Evening in Big Lake on Monday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
4 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
1h 15m 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 Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN covers 59.2 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Diffley Road, MN 77 North, Cedar Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.6 miles from Eagan, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.47 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.
The drive from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN is easy. At 1h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Eagan, MN to Big Lake, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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