Origin
Pine City, MN
Late night in Pine City on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pine City, MN to Plymouth, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pine City, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Pine City to Plymouth, expect a straightforward 77.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the duration is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the drive. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will remain in a familiar regional landscape throughout your travels. Because this is a direct, turn-heavy local drive, it offers a practical alternative for those who prefer avoiding major interstates. It is an efficient way to navigate between these two Minnesota locations without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| I 35W | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| I 694 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| MN 100 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Northwest Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 41.9 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine City, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on Railroad Street Southeast
212 ft
·
14 sec
·
Railroad Street Southeast
2
Turn left onto CR 8
414 ft
·
18 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
3
Turn left onto I 35 BUS; CR 61
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street South
4
Turn right onto I 35 BUS; CR 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue Southwest
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
6
Merge onto I 35
42 mi
·
44 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 694
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on MN 100
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 12A
Toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
42nd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 61
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto MN 55
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
MN 55
16
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Pine City, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 67.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South: Saint Paul, Minneapolis
7
43.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
7
63.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
7
67.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| premium | $4.53 | $13.27 | $26.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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 very different experience than a typical interstate cruise, as this drive features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through local routes like 3rd Avenue Southeast, Main Street South, and Hillside Avenue Southwest. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, you should prepare for a turn-heavy environment that requires your full attention behind the wheel. The journey maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to focus on the road as you transition between the two points. This is an ideal route if you enjoy a more hands-on driving experience rather than a monotonous, long-distance highway stretch.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Pine City, MN
Full guide →Pine City is a city in east central Minnesota with the tagline "North. Nice and close." The Pine City zip code (55063), which is a more accurate reflection of the size of the town, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and even more native pine trees. It's an easy day trip from the Twin Cities to Pine City, the largest city in, and county seat of Pine County.
Arriving in Plymouth, MN
Full guide →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 1h 29m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on I 35. 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 1.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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