Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Blue Earth, MN
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
108.3 mi
174 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 30m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eden Prairie, MN
Tom Fisk
Blue Earth, MN
Nothing Ahead
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Eden Prairie to Blue Earth, you can expect a straightforward 108.3-mile journey through the heart of Minnesota. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the trip. Because the route is relatively short and efficient, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have extra time to linger. Navigating this path involves a blend of US 169, US 212, and County Road 11, keeping you firmly within the Midwest. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that gets you from the suburbs to the southern part of the state without requiring a complex itinerary.
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
54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 87.3 miles on US 169. The drive maintains a consistent pace, moving away from suburban traffic and into more open territory as you head south. While the experience is primarily about highway efficiency rather than technical curves, the shifting landscape provides a steady backdrop for your two-hour commute. Behind the wheel, you can expect a reliable, high-speed travel experience that prioritizes directness over winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 169 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 212. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward US 212 West
Navigation decision point
Toward US 212 West
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 212
Merge onto US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
11.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
5
19.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 169
Turn right onto US 169
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
108.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 169 | 87.3 mi | 1h 50m |
| US 212 | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| County Road 11 | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Jonathan Carver Parkway | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Scenic Heights Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| County Road 40 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Fairgrounds Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 169
— 87.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Blue Earth, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn right onto CR 4
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Eden Prairie Road
3
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 212 West
4
Merge onto US 212
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US 212
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CR 11
310 ft
·
5 sec
·
County Road 11
7
Continue on CR 11
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
Use the none lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 11
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
9
Continue on CR 11
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonathan Carver Parkway
10
Continue on CR 11; CR 40
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
County Road 40
11
Turn left onto CR 11
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 11
12
Turn right onto US 169
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on US 169
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 169
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 169
24 mi
·
29 min
·
US 169
Use the none lane.
15
Continue on US 169; MN 99
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 169; MN 99
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 169; MN 60
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
US 169; MN 60
17
Turn left onto US 169
36 mi
·
47 min
·
US 169
18
Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road
25 ft
·
1 sec
·
Fairgrounds Road
19
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Fairgrounds Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR 6
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
21
Turn left onto East 7th Street
150 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 7th Street
22
Turn right
53 ft
·
6 sec
23
Turn right
58 ft
·
4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 108.3-mile drive, consider departing during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the initial US 212 and County Road 11 segments. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, provided you account for the time in your 2 hour and 22 minute travel estimate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Eden Prairie, though the $15 budget should easily cover your needs for the duration of the trip. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay focused during the long 87.3-mile stretch on US 169, as the consistency of the highway can make it easy to lose track of your speed. Planning your departure to align with light traffic will ensure you arrive in Blue Earth feeling refreshed.
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 54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 9m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eden Prairie, 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 Eden Prairie, MN
This is one driving day of about 108.3 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Eden Prairie, 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 US 169 for about 87.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.1 mi from Eden Prairie, MN · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 169 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.3 miles.
Arriving in Blue Earth, MN
The final approach into Blue Earth, 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 Blue Earth, 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
$15.49 one way
$30.98 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $16.72 | $33.44 |
| premium | $4.39 | $18.73 | $37.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.06 | $48.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.37 | $5.20 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.48 | $4.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Blue Earth, MN
Afternoon in Blue Earth on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
1 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
2h 22m 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 108.3 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 169, US 212, County Road 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.49 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Eden Prairie, MN to Blue Earth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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