Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN
Drive Time
44m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eden Prairie, MN
Tom Fisk
Circle Pines, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Eden Prairie to Circle Pines, you are looking at a straightforward 33.9-mile journey across Minnesota. Expect the drive to take approximately 44 minutes under normal traffic conditions. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-way lodging. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should comfortably cover the entire trip. Since both cities are located within the Midwest region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout your travel.
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
16.9 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 33.9-mile trek is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will primarily navigate via Mitchell Road, US 212 East, and the Crosstown Highway, with a highway share of 0%. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Mitchell Road is 0 miles, you should stay alert for frequent turns and transitions. The personality of this route is defined by its local character, requiring more active attention behind the wheel compared to a straight highway slog.
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.
Mitchell 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN is easy. At 44m 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 212 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Crosstown Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 100 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 694 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35W North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lake Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lake Drive Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Mitchell Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Circle Pines, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn left onto Mitchell Road
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Mitchell Road
3
Take the ramp right toward US 212 East, MN 5 East
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 212 East, MN 5 East
4
Merge slight left
4.4 mi
·
5 min
5
Continue on Crosstown Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward MN 100 North
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
MN 100 North
7
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
16 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 694 East
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 694 East
9
Merge slight left
5.3 mi
·
5 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W North
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 35W North
11
Merge slight left
3.0 mi
·
3 min
12
Keep slight left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward Lake Drive
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Lake Drive
14
Continue on Lake Drive Northeast
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
15
Turn left onto Pine Drive
318 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pine Drive
16
Turn slight left onto Crossway Drive
328 ft
·
14 sec
·
Crossway Drive
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 44-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire trip without any planned stops, allowing you to get to your destination efficiently. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, keep a close eye on your GPS to navigate the transitions between Mitchell Road and the Crosstown Highway smoothly. Keep that $5 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and enjoy the convenience of a quick, direct commute 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 16.9 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 22m 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 33.9 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.9 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Circle Pines, 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 33.9 miles and 44m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.9 mi from Eden Prairie, MN · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Circle Pines, MN
The final approach into Circle Pines, 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 Circle Pines, 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
$4.85 one way
$9.70 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $5.23 | $10.47 |
| premium | $4.39 | $5.86 | $11.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Circle Pines, MN
Afternoon in Circle Pines on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
31 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
44m 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 Circle Pines, MN covers 33.9 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mitchell Road, US 212 East, Crosstown Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.9 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 $4.85 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN is easy. At 44m 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 Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Eden Prairie, MN to Circle Pines, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Circle Pines, MN
Explore more options from Eden Prairie, MN or browse trips ending in Circle Pines, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Eden Prairie, MN or Circle Pines, MN on MapSof.net.