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Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Brainerd, MN

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 38m

Distance

129.5 mi

208 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 28m ★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States

Eden Prairie, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Minnesota, United States

Brainerd, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Eden Prairie, MN to Brainerd, MN covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 10, MN 371, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.4 miles on US 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.27 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

64.8 miles from Eden Prairie, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 129.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 38m highway drive covering 129.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 10 and MN 371. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 10.

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 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Mitchell Road.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 129.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Mitchell Road

Turn left onto Mitchell Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
3.5 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn left toward I 494 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 494 North
5
3.5 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 494 North
5
3.9 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 494

Merge onto I 494

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.1 mi into trip | ~24m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 10 54.4 mi 1h 3m
MN 371 27.4 mi 31m
I 94 22.6 mi 24m
I 494 13.3 mi 16m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Baker Road 1.7 mi 3m
Park Boulevard Southeast 1.4 mi 1m
West Washington Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 10 — 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Brainerd, MN.

1

Start on Scenic Heights Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Scenic Heights Road
2

Turn left onto Mitchell Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Mitchell Road
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on CR 60

1.7 mi · 3 min · Baker Road
4

Turn slight right

288 ft · 10 sec
5

Turn slight left onto CR 62

453 ft · 9 sec · CR 62
6

Continue on MN 62

458 ft · 15 sec · Crosstown Highway
7

Turn left

354 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 494 North Use the straight / left lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 494 North
9

Merge onto I 494

13 mi · 16 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 49 sec
Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 94

17 mi · 18 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

6.0 mi · 6 min · I 94
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
14

Turn right onto MN 25

0.8 mi · 2 min · Pine Street
15

Continue on MN 25

0.1 mi · 19 sec · State Highway 25
16

Turn left onto County Road 11

0.7 mi · 53 sec · County Road 11
17

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast
18

Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast
19

Turn left onto US 10

54 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 10
20

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371

27 mi · 31 min · MN 371
21

Turn right onto MN 210; MN 371 Business

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Highway 210
22

Continue on MN 210; MN 371 Business

1.2 mi · 2 min · West Washington Street
23

Turn right onto MN 371 Business

22 ft · 0 sec · South 6th Street
24

Arrive at destination

MN 371 Business

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 28 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.8 miles or 1h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brainerd, 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 129.5 miles and 2h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Eden Prairie, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.8 mi from Eden Prairie, MN · 1h 21m into the drive

city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Big Lake, MN

65 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

Albertville, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Cloud, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.8 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brainerd, MN

The final approach into Brainerd, 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 Brainerd, MN.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rogers, Minnesota

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 27.8

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Osseo, Minnesota

2.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Coco Moon Coffee Co

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brainerd, Minnesota

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 129.5

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Loco Espress Coffee House & Boutique

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brainerd, Minnesota

0.6 mi

StoneHouse Coffee & Roastery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Baxter, Minnesota

2 mi

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 27.8

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 18.5

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

Mallards Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately

Shakopee, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19528557779

Visit website

Coco Moon Coffee Co

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 129.5

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Loco Espress Coffee House & Boutique

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 129.5

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12183304335

Visit website

StoneHouse Coffee & Roastery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 129.5

Baxter, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12184542835

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 64.8

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

Barista Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 101.8

Little Falls, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13204142230

Visit website

Munkabeans Coffeehouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.3

Hopkins, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19529389056

Visit website

Safari North Wildlife Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 120.3

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+12184541662

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 18.5

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 64.8

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Granite City Jump

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 64.8

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+13203422148

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.27 one way

$38.54 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $20.77 $41.53
premium $4.53 $23.11 $46.21
diesel $5.61 $28.59 $57.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.9 0 $13.60 $6.22
Efficient EV 32.4 0 $11.33 $5.18
EV Truck/SUV 51.8 0 $18.13 $8.29

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Eden Prairie, MN

Night in Eden Prairie on Thursday

Local time

10:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brainerd, MN

Night in Brainerd on Thursday

Local time

10:46 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

8 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 38m 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 Brainerd, MN covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 10, MN 371, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.8 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 $19.27 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 129.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Mitchell Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Eden Prairie, MN to Brainerd, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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