Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.3 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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
If you are looking to travel from Minneapolis to Plymouth, you are in for a quick 11.3-mile trip that typically takes about 17 minutes. This short commute is ideal for a single-day excursion and requires very little planning, as you can easily complete it in under half an hour. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a highly budget-friendly jaunt across the Midwest. You will not need to worry about overnight logistics or extensive preparation, making this an efficient way to navigate between these two Minnesota locations. Because the entire journey is contained within the same state, you can expect a familiar, straightforward driving experience from start to finish.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Olson Memorial Highway | 6 mi | 8m |
| I 394 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| MN 100 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue South | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| MN 55 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Minneapolis, MN and Plymouth, MN.
Start on CR 152
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Turn straight onto I 394
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto MN 100
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto MN 55
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 5.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 100 South, MN 100 North: Park Place-Xenia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MN 100 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MN 55 West, MN 55 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MN 55 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.68 one way
$3.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.02 | $4.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.49 | $4.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.99 | $0.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Minneapolis on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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 trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions between urban arteries and faster highway segments. You will spend about 34% of your time on the highway, utilizing a combination of Olson Memorial Highway, I-394, and MN-100 to make your way west. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 6-mile segment on Olson Memorial Highway, which provides a consistent flow before you merge onto the larger interstates. Expect the road personality to shift from local city navigation to a more structured highway pace as you progress toward Plymouth. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that gets you to your destination with minimal complexity.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 1st Avenue.
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 9 decision points packed into just 11.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
12 ft
Highest Point
978 ft
~11.3 mi in
Elevation Range
148 ft
Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.
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 17m. Total distance: 11.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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