Origin
Eden Prairie, MN
Afternoon in Eden Prairie on Wednesday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eden Prairie, MN to Benson, MN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
126.1 mi
203 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eden Prairie, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eden Prairie, MN to Benson, MN covers 126.1 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Eden Prairie Road, West 78th Street, Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.77 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
63.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 126.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Eden Prairie 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 Benson, MN is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Benson, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eden Prairie Road | — | — |
| West 78th Street | — | — |
| Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Arboretum Boulevard | — | — |
| Rolling Acres Road | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Highway 71 South | — | — |
| 1st Street South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Eden Prairie Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eden Prairie, MN and Benson, MN.
1
Start on Scenic Heights Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Scenic Heights Road
2
Turn right onto Eden Prairie Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Eden Prairie Road
3
Turn left onto West 78th Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 78th Street
4
Continue on Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway
5
Continue on Arboretum Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Arboretum Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Rolling Acres Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Rolling Acres Road
7
Turn left
3.2 mi
·
4 min
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
5.8 mi
·
7 min
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
151 ft
·
3 sec
·
the route
11
Exit the roundabout
2.5 mi
·
3 min
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
164 ft
·
3 sec
·
the route
13
Exit the roundabout
9.0 mi
·
11 min
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
15
Exit the roundabout
51 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 71 South
10 ft
·
Highway 71 South
17
Exit the roundabout onto Highway 71 South
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 71 South
18
Continue on 1st Street South
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
19
Turn left onto 19th Avenue Southwest
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
19th Avenue Southwest
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 30th Street Southwest
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
30th Street Southwest
21
Exit the roundabout onto 30th Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
30th Street Southwest
22
Turn left onto MN 40
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 40
23
Turn right onto County Road 55
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 55
24
Turn left onto US 12
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 12
25
Continue on Pacific Avenue Southeast
25 mi
·
35 min
·
Pacific Avenue Southeast
26
Turn left
131 ft
·
10 sec
27
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, or about 1h 26m 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.1 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benson, 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 126.1 miles and 2h 53m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.1 mi from Eden Prairie, MN · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.1 miles from Eden Prairie, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Benson, MN
The final approach into Benson, 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 Benson, 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
$18.77 one way
$37.53 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $20.22 | $40.44 |
| premium | $4.53 | $22.50 | $45.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.84 | $55.68 |
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: 44.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.24 | $6.05 |
| Efficient EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Benson, MN
Afternoon in Benson on Wednesday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Hutchinson, MN
63 mi in
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
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
2h 53m 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 Benson, MN covers 126.1 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Eden Prairie Road, West 78th Street, Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.1 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 $18.77 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.
The drive from Eden Prairie, MN to Benson, MN is easy. At 2h 53m 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 Benson, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Eden Prairie, MN to Benson, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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