Origin
Empire, MN
Morning in Empire on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Empire, MN to Plymouth, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Empire, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Empire to Plymouth, you are in for a straightforward 42.6-mile commute across the Minnesota landscape. This drive typically takes about 44 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily utilize US 52 and MN 55 West to bridge the gap between these two Midwest locations. With a minimal fuel budget of roughly $6, this route is highly cost-effective for a quick transit. Since the travel time is under an hour, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex itineraries. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MN 55 | 16.7 mi | 22m |
| US 52 | 12 mi | 13m |
| US 169 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Crosstown Highway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| 200th Street East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MN 55
— 16.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Empire, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on CR 66
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
200th Street East
2
Take the ramp
184 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 52 South
3
Merge onto US 52
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 52
4
Take the exit
106 ft
·
10 sec
Toward US 52 North
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto US 52
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 52
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55
13 mi
·
17 min
·
MN 55
Exit 121
Toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Crosstown Highway
Toward I 35W South, MN 62
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 169
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward MN 55 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto MN 55
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 55
12
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Empire, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward US 52 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 52 North
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 52
Turn left onto US 52
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
12.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
MN 55
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55 toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 121
Toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MN 62 / Crosstown Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62 / Crosstown Highway toward I 35W South, MN 62
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W South, MN 62
7
31.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward US 169 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.56 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.77 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Plymouth, MN
Morning in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you navigate your way between Empire and Plymouth. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this drive features no sustained stretches of highway, meaning you will spend your time navigating through local transitions. The route demands your full attention due to the frequent turns required to follow the path of US 52 and MN 55 West. While it lacks the monotony of a high-speed interstate grind, the lack of highway segments means you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience. You will find that the character of the road changes frequently as you move through these local connections.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on MN 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MN 55 and US 52. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Plymouth, MN
Full guide →Founded 1852
Plymouth is a city located in the heart of Minnesota. This city is a place that has a good solid community and friendly people. Plymouth has a lot to offer both its residents and its travelers. They are known for having affordable housing, low crime rates and most importantly an active outdoor culture. Plymouth was also Money Magazine's best place to live in 2008. If Plymouth was ranked as the number one place to live, it must be a really great place to travel to as well.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on MN 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Plymouth, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plymouth, MN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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