Where is Prior Lake, Minnesota, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Prior Lake Located? - Prior Lake is a city located in the Scott County of Minnesota, United States. Prior Lake lies between 41.8666341 Degrees North latitudes and 103.6671662 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Prior Lake, Minnesota

Where is Prior Lake, Minnesota

Prior Lake Map, Minnesota, USA

Where is Prior Lake?: The Google Map showing the location of Prior Lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Where is Prior Lake Located?

Prior Lake is a city located in the Scott County of Minnesota, United States. Prior Lake lies between 41.8666341 Degrees North latitudes and 103.6671662 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Prior Lake city is 27617 people and the city has a total area of 15.9 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Prior Lake, Minnesota Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityPrior Lake
CountyScott County
StateMinnesota
State CapitalSaint Paul
US RegionMidwestern United States (West North Central Region)
Latitude44.7133° N
Longitude93.4227° W
Elevation925 ft (282 m)
Land Area16.77 sq mi
Water Area4.82 sq mi
Total Area21.59 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)27,727
Population DensityApproximately 1,653 people per sq mi
ZIP Code55372
Area Code952
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST, UTC−6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code27-52480
Congressional DistrictMinnesota's 2nd Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Prior Lake

CategoryDetails
Airport NameMinneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
IATA CodeMSP
PortRegional inland waterways and Mississippi River access
Major HighwaysU.S. Route 169, Minnesota State Highway 13, County Road 42
Train/Amtrak ServiceNearest Amtrak service in Saint Paul
Local Bus/Transit ServiceSouthWest Transit regional services
  • U.S. Route 169 – Major highway connecting Prior Lake with the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and southern Minnesota.
  • Minnesota State Highway 13 – Regional route serving Prior Lake and nearby communities.
  • County Road 42 – Important local transportation corridor through Scott County.

Top Places to Visit in Prior Lake, Minnesota

Landmark NameType
Lakefront ParkCommunity Park
Prior LakeRecreation Lake
Cleary Lake Regional ParkRegional Park
Mystic Lake Casino HotelEntertainment Venue
The LandingHistoric Site
Spring Lake Regional Park ReserveNature Area
Murphy-Hanrehan Park ReserveNatural Preserve
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Cultural SitesCultural Attraction
Paradise Valley Conservation AreaOutdoor Recreation Area
Minnesota Landscape ArboretumGarden Attraction

Driving Distances from Prior Lake, Minnesota to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
ShakopeeMinnesota815 minutes
Eden PrairieMinnesota1525 minutes
BloomingtonMinnesota2535 minutes
MinneapolisMinnesota3040 minutes
Saint PaulMinnesota4050 minutes
BurnsvilleMinnesota1525 minutes
RochesterMinnesota801 hour 20 minutes
MankatoMinnesota701 hour 15 minutes
DuluthMinnesota1602 hours 45 minutes
MadisonWisconsin2704 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Prior Lake, Minnesota

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of Minnesota Twin CitiesPublicUniversityResearch, engineering, business, medicine, and sciences
Normandale Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTransfer education, career programs, and workforce training
St. Catherine UniversityPrivateUniversityHealth sciences, education, arts, and professional studies
Carleton CollegePrivateLiberal Arts CollegeLiberal arts, sciences, and undergraduate research
University of St. ThomasPrivateUniversityBusiness, law, education, and technology
Prior Lake-Savage Area SchoolsPublicK–12 DistrictPrimary and secondary education

Waterbodies in Prior Lake, Minnesota

Prior Lake, Upper Prior Lake, Lower Prior Lake, Spring Lake, Cleary Lake, Credit River, and nearby waterways of Scott County.

Golf Courses Near Prior Lake

The Wilds Golf Club, Mystic Lake Golf Club, The Meadows at Mystic Lake, Stonebrooke Golf Club, and Brackett's Crossing Country Club.

Prior Lake, Minnesota — Key Historical Facts

  • Prior Lake developed around the area's lakes, forests, and agricultural lands in the nineteenth century.
  • The community was named after Prior Lake, which was named in honor of Charles Prior, an early settler in the region.
  • Prior Lake was incorporated as a village in 1891 and later became a city as the area expanded.
  • The area has a strong connection to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, whose reservation lands are located nearby.
  • Today, Prior Lake is known for its lakes, parks, recreational activities, suburban neighborhoods, and location within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

References

Minnesota Related Maps and Info

Minnesota MapMinnesota County MapMap of Minnesota With Cities
Minnesota ZipcodesAirports in MinnesotaWhere is Saint Paul
Minnesota Area CodesWhere is MinnesotaMinnesota River Map
Minnesota Physical MapMinnesota Road MapWhere is Minneapolis