How far is Thief River Falls, MN from Eagan, MN?

The driving distance from Thief River Falls, MN to Eagan, MN is about 318.3 miles (512.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 270.2 miles (434.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
318.28 mi
05h 18m
Flight
270.22 mi
434.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thief River Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
270.22 mi
Kilometers
434.87 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
318.28 mi
Kilometers
512.23 km
Drive Time
05h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Eagan
Sun, May 31, 12:08 PM CDT
Return by in Thief River Falls
Sun, May 31, 5:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thief River Falls
2026-05-31T06:49
Arrive Eagan
Sun, May 31, 12:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:19 AM to 1:19 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thief River Falls
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Staples
MN

City in Todd County and Wadena County, Minnesota

From Thief River Falls
155.6 mi
02h 39m
To Eagan
162.7 mi
02h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SE
Destination
81°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thief River Falls and Eagan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thief River Falls and Eagan.

  1. 1

    Start on 3rd Street East

    9.5 mi · 12 min · 3rd Street East

  2. 2

    Turn left

    85 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  3. 3

    Turn left

    44.9 mi · 52 min

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout

    20 m · 1 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Ash Avenue Northwest

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest

  7. 7

    Continue on West Mason Avenue

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min · West Mason Avenue

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    26.1 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  11. 11

    Continue on County Road 11

    1.1 km · 58 sec · County Road 11

  12. 12

    Turn right onto State Highway 25

    540 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 25

  13. 13

    Continue on Pine Street

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Pine Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Broadway Street East

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street East

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Fenning Avenue

    1727 ft · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the ramp left

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South

    2227 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    24.7 mi · 31 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward MN 77 South

    1595 ft · 39 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on MN 77 South: Killebrew Drive

    1376 ft · 34 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on MN 77 South

    2261 ft · 55 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Cedar Avenue South

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Cedar Avenue South

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 30: Diffley Road

    1827 ft · 47 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Diffley Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Diffley Road

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Diffley Road

    26 m · 2 sec · Diffley Road

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto Diffley Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Diffley Road

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Pilot Knob Road

    734 ft · 41 sec · Pilot Knob Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Pilot Knob Road

    156 m · 10 sec · Pilot Knob Road

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pilot Knob Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thief River Falls and Eagan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
30 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
2 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Mason Avenue
105 mi · 33%
I 494 South
25.2 mi · 8%
Fenning Avenue
21.8 mi · 7%
3rd Street East
9.54 mi · 3%
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.26 mi · 2%
Cedar Avenue South
3.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

85 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
270.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Staples
02h 39m from Thief River Falls
Leave By
6:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Thief River Falls and Partly Sunny near Eagan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thief River Falls to Eagan?

The road trip is about 318.3 miles (512.2 km) and usually takes 05h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Staples is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.6 miles from Thief River Falls and 162.7 miles from Eagan.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 270.2 miles (434.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.08 one way or $80.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Thief River Falls and Partly Sunny near Eagan.

Stop Ideas Near Staples

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Staples, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Staples.

RAIL

Staples

First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

Detroit Lakes

96 mi away
116 Pioneer Street
RAIL

St. Cloud

101 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thief River Falls and Eagan. Straight-line distance: 270.22 mi (434.87 km).

Thief River Falls

#1 Thief River Falls

City in Pennington County, Minnesota, USA

Population8,688
Coordinates48.1191400, -96.1811500
Altitude345
CountryUnited States
Eagan

#2 Eagan

The most populous city in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Population65,975
Coordinates44.8041300, -93.1668900
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Start: 3rd Street East (-96.18115, 48.119121)
End: Pilot Knob Road (-93.167023, 44.804131)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 512 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.23 gal
42.52 L · about $40.08
Round trip
$80.16
22.46 gal · 85.04 L
Estimated CO2
99.8 kg one way
Round trip: 199.6 kg / 440 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $40.08 $80.16
Mid-grade $3.92 $44.03 $88.07
Premium $4.39 $49.32 $98.64
Diesel $4.86 $54.62 $109.25

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Thief River Falls and Eagan. The current time is 06:49:39.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.