Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
15 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Independence to Plymouth is 15 miles and takes about 24 minutes via County Road 24, Babcock Boulevard, and MN 55, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Minnesota, traversing familiar Midwest terrain. Given its brevity, it's an ideal option for a quick errand, a brief commute, or adding a small segment to a larger regional drive. You won't need to budget for an overnight stay, and the minimal fuel cost makes it very economical.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 24 | 7.3 mi | 11m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 3 mi | 4m |
| MN 55 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| County Road 19 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Baker Park Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street East | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Valley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, MN and Plymouth, MN.
Start on Valley Road
Turn left onto US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn left onto CR 19
At end of road, turn left onto CR 19
Turn slight right onto CR 19
Turn right onto CR 24
Turn right onto MN 55
Continue on MN 55
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 12.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto US 12 / Babcock Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto CR 19 / Baker Park Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto CR 24 / County Road 24
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto MN 55
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.23 one way
$4.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.41 | $4.81 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.68 | $5.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Independence on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 17% on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving, 7.3 miles on County Road 24, before transitioning to Babcock Boulevard and MN 55. Expect a more urban or suburban driving experience with frequent intersections and potential for traffic as you approach Plymouth.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 12 / Babcock Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 12 / Babcock Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 12 / Babcock Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.6 miles (CR 19 / Baker Park Road): Navigation decision point.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 15 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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