Origin
Plymouth, MN
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MN to Afton, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
41.2 mi
66 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 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Afton, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Plymouth to Afton, you are in for a straightforward 41.2-mile journey across the Minnesota landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 56 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of around $6, this route is highly efficient for those looking to reach their destination quickly. You will remain within the Midwest region throughout the entire trip, transitioning between these two Minnesota communities. Because the drive is short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for a morning excursion or an afternoon outing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 26.2 mi | 33m |
| I 394 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| MN 55 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Saint Croix Trail South | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Saint Croix Trail North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 169 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| MN 95 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Afton Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 26.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Afton, MN.
1
Start on MN 55
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
MN 55
2
Continue on MN 55
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 55
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on MN 55
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
MN 55
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 169 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 169
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward General Mills Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
9
Merge onto I 394
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 94; MN 55
26 mi
·
33 min
·
I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit onto MN 95
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
MN 95
Exit 258
Toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CH 18
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
15
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
16
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail North
Use the straight lane.
17
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
18
Continue on CH 18
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto CH 18
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail South
20
Continue on CH 18
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Saint Croix Trail South
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto CH 18
80 ft
·
1 sec
·
Afton Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
CH 18
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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Plymouth, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 36.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward US 169 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 169 South
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward General Mills Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward General Mills Boulevard
8
10 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward I 94 East
8
36.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
MN 95
Take the exit onto MN 95 toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 258
Toward MN 95 North, CH 18: Stillwater
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $6.61 | $13.21 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Afton, MN
Late night in Afton on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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
56m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of your time spent cruising on major roads like I-394, I-94, and MN-55. You will experience a consistent pace behind the wheel, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.2 miles on I-94. The character of the road is functional and direct, designed to move you efficiently from the western suburbs through the metropolitan area toward the St. Croix Valley. While you won't encounter technical mountain passes or winding backroads, the transition from urban highway infrastructure to the quieter roads leading into Afton provides a steady change in scenery. It is a predictable drive that favors speed and reliability over slow-paced exploration.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 394. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 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 19 decision points packed into just 41.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Plymouth, MN to Afton, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Ch 18: Stillwater along the way.
Ch 18: Stillwater
36.7 mi in
|
~49m
|
via MN 95
About the Cities
Starting 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 56m. Total distance: 41.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on I 94. 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 Afton, 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 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Afton, 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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