Closed Course vs. Open Course: Choosing Your Minnesota Road Test Site
After years of running Driver Education Programs here in the south metro, I've learned that one of the biggest surprises for families isn't the road test itself — it's finding out that not every Minnesota Road Test is the same. Where your teen tests can change the whole experience. So before you book that appointment, let's talk about the two kinds of test sites, and how to walk into the right one ready.
Wait — There Are Two Kinds of Road Tests?
Yes. Minnesota gives the Class D Road Test two different ways: on a Closed Course or on an Open Course.
A CLOSED COURSE is a dedicated driving course the exam station owns. No regular traffic, no pedestrians — just your teen, the examiner, and the course. There are only three of them in the entire state, and they're all in the metro: Arden Hills, Plymouth, and Eagan. You cannot drive on this course unless you are taking an official Road Test.
An OPEN COURSE is a set route on real public streets, mixed right in with normal traffic — other cars, stop signs, signals, pedestrians, the works. This is how the rest of Minnesota's roughly 90 test sites run, including Hastings, Faribault, Chaska, Anoka, Stillwater, and Cambridge.
One important thing up front: both earn the exact same license. The state accepts either one. Neither is the "easy way" — they're just different.
CLOSED COURSE (off-street, no public traffic):
- Eagan – South Metro, 2070 Cliff Road, Eagan
- Arden Hills – North Metro, 5400 Old Highway 8, Arden Hills
- Plymouth
OPEN COURSE (a set route on real public roads):
- Hastings, 1355 S Frontage Road
- Faribault, Chaska, Anoka, Stillwater, Cambridge, and more
The Honest Pros and Cons
Here's how I explain it to parents.
An OPEN COURSE is real driving. Your teen tests on normal roads, in familiar traffic conditions, with the same signs and signals they've been practicing on all along. It feels like driving, because it is. The trade-off? You're at the mercy of whatever the traffic does that day — a tricky merge, an impatient driver, a school bus stopping right in front of you. Real roads are unpredictable.
A CLOSED COURSE takes all that traffic away. It's controlled, predictable, and it's where you'll find the weekend appointments. But — and this is the part families don't expect — it has a different feel. The roads on a closed course aren't always marked the way real streets are. Eagan's course, for example, has wide four-lane stretches and even a two-way road with no painted center line, and I've watched plenty of good young drivers drift toward the oncoming side simply because there was no line to follow. It can be confusing precisely because it isn't "normal." No traffic sounds easier — until the layout throws you.
Neither one is a shortcut. They just ask for slightly different preparation.
What People Actually Say About Our Local Sites
I browsed the reviews so you don't have to. A few honest patterns for south-metro families:
EAGAN (South Metro, closed until early October) is the one most of our families use — and it's one of the busiest in the state, which shows up in its reviews (it sits around 2.9 stars across hundreds of them). The complaints are mostly about wait times and the course layout tripping people up, not unfair testing. Examiner experience is hit-or-miss and very person-dependent.
HASTINGS (an open course) tends to read friendlier and more relaxed — supportive examiners, a smaller and calmer setting, though being small it can mean an occasional wait. For families out east, it's a genuinely nice alternative.
ARDEN HILLS is small and generally well-reviewed for friendly staff. (It went through some roadwork recently, so confirm it's open before you drive out.)
One takeaway: the big metro closed-course stations carry lower star averages mostly because they're slammed with volume — not because they're out to fail anyone. And ratings drift, so check the current reviews before you decide.
Book Early — The Busiest Sites Fill Up
Arden Hills, Eagan, and Plymouth — the three closed courses — handle close to half of all the road tests in Minnesota, and they're the only sites open on weekends. In recent years, the wait between booking and testing in the metro has stretched to around three months. So while Eagan is convenient for our ISD 196 families, it's also one of the most in-demand sites in the state. Booking early — or being willing to drive to an open course like Hastings or Faribault — can save you weeks.
And a word on "easy" sites: Minnesota doesn't publish pass rates by location, so don't believe anyone who swears one station is easier to pass. Statewide, pass rates have actually slipped in recent years, with more drivers needing a second try. The answer isn't a lucky location — it's preparation.
My Best Tip: Scout Your Site Before Test Day
This is the tip I give every single family, and it's a good idea no matter where your teen tests: research whichever DMV they're taking the road test at. Read the reviews. Look at the photos. And yes — search YouTube. There are scouting-report videos and full dash-cam run-throughs for most Minnesota test sites, especially the Eagan closed course.
It's not cheating. It's preparing. It's the exact same thing you'd do before a road trip — you look at the route ahead of time so you know what to expect. Your teen will know where they're going, they'll be more mentally prepared, and they'll be more confident. And confidence is what passes road tests.
Before Test Day: The Quick Checklist
Pre-apply and book your appointment at drive.mn.gov. Grab a slot early, and keep refreshing for cancellations.
Bring the instruction permit, proof of identity and Social Security number, and ORIGINAL proof of insurance for the test car — photocopies and internet printouts are not accepted.
Bring current registration and tabs (or a displayed 21-day permit).
If your teen is under 18: the signed driving log, the certificate of course completion, and a parent or guardian present to sign the application.
The test car has to pass a quick safety check first — lights, turn signals, seat belts, doors, no warning lights on the dash. A single burnt-out bulb can end the test before it starts.
Arrive early. On a closed course, the golden rule is simple: don't hit a cone, curb, or car — and if you need to stop and reset a maneuver, you're allowed to. And a "No Turn on Red" sign means exactly that; ignoring one is an automatic fail.
[LINK: See our full "what to bring to your road test" guide] -> your road-test blog post
The Bottom Line
The Road Test doesn't have to be a mystery. Know which kind of course your teen is walking into, scout it ahead of time, and show up prepared — permit in hand, insurance card in the glovebox, and a clear picture of the route in their head. That's how calm, confident, safe drivers are made. And honestly, it's exactly what we do with every student — we even run a full Mock Road Test as an optional behind-the-wheel service, so you know exactly what to expect. on Test Day.
Scout it. Prepare for it. Then go pass it. And if you fail, don’t cry about it (25% of people doon their first try). Get a little extra practice and go try again, and consider the Open vs. Closed Course Road Test options.
ENROLL WITH SOUTH METRO DRIVING SCHOOL
Written by Chris Scanlon, Program Director & Owner of South Metro Driving School
SouthMetroDrivingSchool.com — Info@SouthMetroDS.com — 612-552-1929
South Metro Driving School is a Minnesota State-Certified Driving School serving the south Twin Cities Metro — with core markets in Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan, and growing service in Farmington, Lakeville, and Hastings.
This article reflects Chris's personal experience running a licensed Minnesota driving school and independent research from official Minnesota state and city sources, current as of September 2026. It's meant as a helpful starting point, not legal advice - rules change and cities differ, so always confirm the current requirements with Minnesota DVS (dps.mn.gov) and your local city before you ride or drive.
Did you find this information helpful? Explore our other guides on Permits, Road Tests, and getting your License — and if we've earned it, we'd be grateful for a 5-Star Google Review.
