Plymouth, MN to Brainerd, MN is 117.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m via US 10 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Minnesota. Given its relatively short distance and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll likely find it an efficient way to get from the Twin Cities metro area north towards central Minnesota.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.9 miles from Plymouth, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
54.4 mi
1h 3m
MN 371
27.4 mi
31m
I 94
22.6 mi
24m
I 494
5 mi
6m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
West Washington Street
1.2 mi
2m
State Highway 210
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,539
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Brainerd, MN.
1
Start on MN 55
62 ft·3 sec·MN 55
2
Take the exit
186 ft·4 sec
Toward I 494 North
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 494 North
4
Merge onto I 494
5.0 mi·6 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Exit 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
17 mi·18 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.0 mi·6 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
9
Turn right onto MN 25
0.8 mi·2 min·Pine Street
10
Continue on MN 25
0.1 mi·19 sec·State Highway 25
11
Turn left onto County Road 11
0.7 mi·53 sec·County Road 11
12
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
13
Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
14
Turn left onto US 10
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 10
15
Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371
27 mi·31 min·MN 371
16
Turn right onto MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 210
17
Continue on MN 210; MN 371 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
18
Turn right onto MN 371 Business
22 ft·0 sec·South 6th Street
19
Arrive at destination
MN 371 Business
Trip Plan
This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Brainerd with plenty of daylight. Given the 2h 21m estimated duration, you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without significant exits is over 54 miles on US 10. The fuel cost estimate is around $20, so plan accordingly.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.9 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brainerd, 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 117.7 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Plymouth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 494 North
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 494 North
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
4
22.6 mi into trip|~25m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.80 one way
$39.60 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$21.33
$42.65
premium
$5.04
$23.34
$46.67
diesel
$5.64
$26.13
$52.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-11.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.48
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 May 15, 2026
Origin
Plymouth, MN
Evening
in Plymouth on Friday
Local time
8:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brainerd, MN
Evening
in Brainerd on Friday
Local time
8:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 94% of this drive on highways, covering a longest stretch of 54.4 miles on US 10. The transition to MN 371 will likely bring a change from high-speed interstate cruising to a more direct, though still efficient, route. Expect a generally rural feel as you move away from the initial urban areas, with fewer exits as you progress north.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 117.7 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: near the start: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; near the start: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.4 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 117.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Brainerd, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; near the start: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.4 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brainerd, MN before heading back.
