The honest version

Prior Lake is not a short commute to downtown Minneapolis. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. It’s about 26 miles and 31-36 minutes with no traffic, and traffic exists. But commute math in the south metro is more nuanced than just “miles to downtown,” and most people who live here aren’t making that trip anyway.

Here’s what the commute picture actually looks like from Prior Lake, including the routes, transit options, and the stuff nobody puts in a relocation guide.

Drive times to common destinations

All times are approximate and assume normal traffic conditions. Rush hour will add 10-20 minutes to northbound morning trips and southbound evening trips.

Downtown Minneapolis: 26 miles, 31-36 minutes via Highway 13 to 169 to I-494 to I-35W. This is the route most people take. During rush hour, budget 45-55 minutes.

Eden Prairie (business corridor): 15-17 miles, 21-23 minutes via Highway 13 to 169. This is the sweet spot commute from Prior Lake. Quick, predictable, and the traffic isn’t bad.

Mall of America / MSP Airport: 20-25 minutes via Highway 13 east to I-35W north. Straightforward drive that rarely surprises you.

Bloomington (494 corridor): 18-22 minutes. Easy access via 169 or 13 to 35W.

Burnsville: 15-18 minutes via Highway 13 east.

Shakopee: 10-12 minutes via County Road 42 or Highway 13 west.

Chanhassen / Chaska: 20-25 minutes via Highway 13 to 169 north.

St. Paul: 35-45 minutes. Not a great commute from Prior Lake — you’re fighting through either Minneapolis or the 494/694 loop. If St. Paul is your daily destination, the east metro suburbs are a better fit.

The routes that matter

Highway 13

This is Prior Lake’s main artery. It runs east-west through town and connects to 169 (heading north toward Eden Prairie and Minneapolis) and to I-35W (heading north toward Burnsville and Minneapolis). Almost every commute from Prior Lake starts on Highway 13. It’s a well-maintained four-lane highway, and traffic flow is generally reasonable outside of peak hours.

Highway 169

The corridor to Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and the western suburbs. If your job is anywhere along 169, Prior Lake is a natural fit. The interchange with 494 opens up the entire western metro. This is the commute that sells houses in Prior Lake.

County Road 42

Runs east-west south of town and connects Prior Lake to Burnsville and Apple Valley without getting on a highway. Useful for avoiding 13/169 during peak hours, and it’s the back way to a lot of south metro destinations.

Public transit

Prior Lake has MVTA bus service with a few useful routes. It’s not the same as living on a light rail line, but it works for people who use it.

Route 490: Express to downtown Minneapolis

This is the commuter route. Four departures daily, 36-51 minutes to downtown depending on stops. Fare is $2-$4. Picks up at the Southbridge Park and Ride. If you work a standard office schedule downtown, this is viable. The schedule is limited, so flexibility is not its strength.

Route 495: Mall of America and MSP Airport

Connects Prior Lake to Mall of America and MSP Airport. Useful for airport trips without paying for parking, or for folks who work at MOA or in the Bloomington corridor.

Route 447: Local connector

This is a newer route connecting Prior Lake to Savage and Burnsville. Runs 7 days a week, every 30 minutes. Handy for getting to the Burnsville Transit Station, which is a major MVTA hub with connections to the rest of the metro.

MVTA Connect: On-demand rides

An on-demand ride-share service that operates Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 9 PM. Think of it as a local Uber subsidized by the transit authority. Useful for first-mile/last-mile connections or errands within the service area.

Southbridge Park and Ride

The main transit hub for Prior Lake commuters. Free parking, covered waiting area. If you’re taking the 490 downtown, this is where you catch it.

The remote work factor

Here’s the thing that’s changed the commute conversation in Prior Lake more than anything else: a lot of people who live here don’t commute daily anymore.

Prior Lake’s median household income is $130,278. That’s a population heavy on professional jobs, many of which have shifted to hybrid or fully remote. The people buying homes here in the last few years are increasingly optimizing for lifestyle — the lake, the parks, the schools, the community — and treating commute frequency as 2-3 days a week rather than 5.

If you’re commuting to Eden Prairie twice a week and working from home the rest, Prior Lake’s location is a non-issue. If you’re driving to downtown Minneapolis five days a week, you’ll feel those miles. The math depends entirely on your schedule.

Tips from someone who’s driven these roads for 30 years

Highway 13 eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening are the bottleneck. It’s not terrible, but it’s the one stretch where you’ll consistently hit traffic.

The 169/494 interchange gets congested during rush hour. If you’re heading to Eden Prairie, try to hit it before 7:15 AM or after 8:30 AM.

County Road 42 is your friend when 13 is backed up. It adds a few miles but often saves time.

Winter adds 5-15 minutes to everything. Minnesota drivers know this, but if you’re relocating from somewhere without real winters, factor it in.

The Airport route via 13 to 35W is reliable. Budget 25-30 minutes and you’ll almost always make your flight.

How Prior Lake compares to neighboring cities

If commute is a major factor in your decision, it helps to know where Prior Lake sits relative to the alternatives:

  • Savage: 5-10 minutes closer to most destinations. Closer to 35W.
  • Shakopee: Marginally closer to Eden Prairie and the 169 corridor. Similar to Prior Lake for most trips.
  • Lakeville: Direct I-35 access makes it faster for downtown Minneapolis, the airport, and anything east.
  • Burnsville: Significantly closer to everything. 15-20 minutes to downtown. Hard to beat on commute.

Prior Lake’s commute advantage is the 169 corridor — Eden Prairie, Bloomington West, and the southwestern suburbs. If that’s your world, the commute from Prior Lake is excellent. If your world is downtown or east, one of the other south metro cities might save you meaningful time.

Keep exploring

Thinking about making the move? I’ve been here 40 years and selling homes here for 22. Happy to answer questions, no strings attached: mark@priorlakeevents.com

Curious what homes cost in different parts of town? I track real-time market data by neighborhood at PriorLake.RealEstate.

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