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Trip from Plymouth, MN to Blue Earth, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

120.5 mi

194 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

30 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 26m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Devon, England

Plymouth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Minnesota, United States

Blue Earth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Plymouth, MN to Blue Earth, MN covers 120.5 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 169, US 212, I 494 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.3 miles on US 169. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.93 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

60.2 miles from Plymouth, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 169 87.3 mi 1h 50m
US 212 12.7 mi 14m
I 494 9.8 mi 12m
County Road 11 5.4 mi 8m
Jonathan Carver Parkway 2 mi 3m
North Main Street 1 mi 2m
County Road 40 0.6 mi <1m
Fairgrounds Road 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 169 — 87.3 mi, about 1h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Blue Earth, MN.

1

Start on MN 55

0.2 mi · 23 sec · MN 55
2

Turn sharp left

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 494 South Use the left lane.
3

Merge onto I 494

9.8 mi · 12 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Exit 11C Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Merge onto US 212; MN 5

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 212

12 mi · 13 min · US 212
Use the slight left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto CR 11

310 ft · 5 sec · County Road 11
9

Continue on CR 11

1.1 mi · 1 min · Jonathan Carver Parkway
10

Enter roundabout onto CR 11

111 ft · 2 sec · Jonathan Carver Parkway
11

Continue on CR 11

0.9 mi · 1 min · Jonathan Carver Parkway
12

Continue on CR 11; CR 40

0.6 mi · 55 sec · County Road 40
13

Turn left onto CR 11

5.4 mi · 7 min · County Road 11
14

Turn right onto US 169

5.7 mi · 6 min · US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on US 169

3.8 mi · 4 min · US 169
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on US 169

24 mi · 29 min · US 169
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on US 169; MN 99

14 mi · 18 min · US 169; MN 99
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 169; MN 60

3.4 mi · 4 min · US 169; MN 60
19

Turn left onto US 169

36 mi · 47 min · US 169
20

Enter roundabout onto Fairgrounds Road

25 ft · 1 sec · Fairgrounds Road
21

Continue on Fairgrounds Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Fairgrounds Road
22

At end of road, turn left onto CR 6

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
23

Turn left onto East 7th Street

150 ft · 8 sec · East 7th Street
24

Turn right

53 ft · 6 sec
25

Turn right

58 ft · 4 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 27 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 16m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Earth, MN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Plymouth, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Plymouth, MN

This is one driving day of about 120.5 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Plymouth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 87.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Madison Lake, MN, MN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Madison Lake, MN

60 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

Jordan, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mankato, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.2 miles from Plymouth, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 169 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mallards Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Shakopee, Minnesota

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 17.2

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19528557779

Visit website

El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mankato, Minnesota

2.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Munkabeans Coffeehouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hopkins, Minnesota

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 8.6

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19529389056

Visit website

Mallards Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 17.2

Shakopee, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19528557779

Visit website

El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.4

Mankato, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15076252406

Visit website

Munkabeans Coffeehouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 8.6

Hopkins, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19529389056

Visit website

Service Plaza

0 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.7 mi from route

Rest Area

0.9 mi from route

Sever's Corn Maze & Farm Market

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 25.8

Shakopee, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+19522706293

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 23.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn sharp left toward I 494 South

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 494 South
5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 494

Merge onto I 494

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward MN 5 West, US 212 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 11C Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
11.8 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 212

Keep slight left at fork onto US 212

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
23.4 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.93 one way

$35.87 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $19.32 $38.65
premium $4.53 $21.50 $43.00
diesel $5.61 $26.60 $53.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

30 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Minnetonka, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Cub Foods - Tesla Supercharger

St. Louis Park, MN

Tesla

8 DCFC

CircleK - Plymouth

Plymouth, MN

CIRCLE_K

4 DCFC

Superior Ford-Plymouth-DCFC

Plymouth, MN

Blink Network

4 DCFC

Morries Minnetonka Ford

Minnetonka, MN

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Plymouth Community Center

Plymouth, MN

DIRT_ROAD

2 DCFC

Plymouth Ice Center

Plymouth, MN

DIRT_ROAD

2 DCFC

Plymouth City Hall

Plymouth, MN

DIRT_ROAD

2 DCFC

DIRT_ROAD: 13 ChargePoint Network: 7 Non-Networked: 2 Tesla: 2 CIRCLE_K: 1 Blink Network: 1 EV Connect: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 IN_CHARGE: 1 ZEFNET: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.2 0 $12.65 $5.78
Efficient EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.87 $7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Plymouth, MN

Morning in Plymouth on Sunday

Local time

10:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Blue Earth, MN

Morning in Blue Earth on Sunday

Local time

10:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 36m 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?

120.5 mi in 2h 36m, mostly highway — 87.3 mi of that is on US 169.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.3 mi on US 169.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 120.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 2h 36m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 87.3 miles on US 169. 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 Blue Earth, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 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 Blue Earth, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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