Origin
Eagan, MN
Morning in Eagan on Friday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagan, MN to Dahlgren, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagan, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Dahlgren, MN
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
Eagan, MN to Dahlgren, MN is 32.1 miles and takes about 40m via US 212 and I 494, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip keeps you within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota for its entirety. Given its focus on highways, expect a straightforward journey. It’s a practical option if you need to travel between these two points efficiently, allowing ample time for whatever awaits you at your destination. Consider this a simple, direct transit rather than a scenic expedition.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 32.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route leans heavily on highway driving, with 77% of the journey on faster roads. You'll primarily navigate on US 212 and I 494, offering a consistent pace for most of the 40-minute drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch on US 212 spans 14 miles, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While predominantly highway-focused, you might experience minor transitions as you enter and exit these main thoroughfares. Overall, anticipate a functional drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and I 494. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near CR 30 / Diffley Road.
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 10 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 30 / Diffley Road
Enter roundabout onto CR 30 / Diffley Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MN 77 / Cedar Avenue
Merge onto MN 77 / Cedar Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
18.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 14 mi | 16m |
| I 494 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Cedar Avenue | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Diffley Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| MN 5 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Pilot Knob Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 43 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 14 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagan, MN and Dahlgren, MN.
1
Start on CR 31
222 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pilot Knob Road
2
Turn left onto CR 30
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Diffley Road
Use the left lane.
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 30
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
Diffley Road
4
Continue on CR 30
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Diffley Road
5
Take the ramp
304 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MN 77 North: Cedar Avenue
6
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
7
Merge onto MN 77
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 494; MN 5
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 494; MN 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 494; MN 5
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 494; MN 5
11
Take the exit onto MN 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
MN 5
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 212
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 43
143 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Road 43
14
Arrive at destination
CR 43
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.78 one way
$9.55 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.15 | $10.29 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.73 | $11.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Dahlgren, MN
Morning in Dahlgren on Friday
Local time
6:00 AM
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
2 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
40m 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 Dahlgren, MN covers 32.1 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, I 494, Cedar Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 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 $4.78 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 10 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (CR 30 / Diffley Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (MN 77 / Cedar Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Eagan, MN to Dahlgren, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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