Origin
Plymouth, MN
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MN to Castle Rock, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
46.3 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Castle Rock, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MN to Castle Rock, MN is 46.3 miles and takes about 58m via I 35W, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Minnesota, making it a straightforward local excursion. Most of the drive is on major highways, so expect a smooth and efficient travel experience. It's a good option for a quick day trip or to connect two points without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 19.7 mi | 21m |
| I 494 | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| 280th Street West | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Pillsbury Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Deuce Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 30th Street West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| MN 55 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 260th Street East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 19.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Castle Rock, 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
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
6
Merge onto I 35W
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 76
Toward CR 2: Elko, New Market
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CR 2; I 35 ALT
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
260th Street East
9
Continue on CR 2; I 35 ALT
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Deuce Road
10
Enter roundabout onto CR 46; I 35 ALT
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
Pillsbury Avenue
11
Continue on CR 46; I 35 ALT
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Pillsbury Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto CH 86
217 ft
·
4 sec
·
30th Street West
13
Continue on CH 86
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
30th Street West
14
Continue on CR 86
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
280th Street West
15
Turn left onto Danville Avenue West
55 ft
·
2 sec
·
Danville Avenue West
16
Arrive at destination
Danville Avenue West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 37 — 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.
7
16.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 35W South: Albert Lea
5
17.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
37 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward CR 2: Elko, New Market
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 76
Toward CR 2: Elko, New Market
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.89 one way
$13.78 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $7.42 | $14.85 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.26 | $16.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Castle Rock, MN
Late night in Castle Rock on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
24 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
58m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 78% of the 46.3 miles on major roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 19.7 miles on I 35W. The remaining portion of the drive will transition to surface roads like 280th Street West as you approach your destination. Expect to encounter denser traffic and more frequent exits as you navigate these highway segments.
78% 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: 19.7 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 494. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between Plymouth, MN and Castle Rock, MN, road signs point toward Cr 2: Elko and New Market.
Cr 2: Elko
37 mi in
|
~44m
New Market
37 mi in
|
~44m
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 58m. Total distance: 46.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.7 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 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 16.7 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 Castle Rock, 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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