Origin
Plymouth, MN
Morning in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MN to Circle Pines, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
25.4 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Circle Pines, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Traveling from Plymouth to Circle Pines covers a quick 25.4-mile span that typically takes about 32 minutes of drive time. Because this is a short, efficient trip within the Midwest, you can easily complete it as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $4 for fuel to cover the distance, making this a very budget-friendly commute. The route utilizes a combination of I-494 North, I-94 East, and I-35W North to navigate the suburban landscape. Since the trip is direct with zero planned stops, you will find it is best suited for those looking to reach their destination quickly rather than those seeking a leisurely road trip experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 694 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 94 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| I 494 | 5 mi | 6m |
| I 35W | 4 mi | 4m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Crossway Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pine Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| MN 55 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 6.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Circle Pines, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 East, I 694 East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 94; I 694
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94; I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 41B
Toward I 35W North
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35W
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 31B
Toward Lake Drive
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on CH 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Pine Drive
319 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pine Drive
14
Turn slight left onto Crossway Drive
329 ft
·
14 sec
·
Crossway Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Crossway Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.8 — 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
8
5.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East, I 694 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 East, I 694 East
6
12.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 694
Keep slight left at fork onto I 694
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
18.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 35W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 35W North
7
22.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Lake Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 31B
Toward Lake Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.78 one way
$7.56 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.07 | $8.15 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.61 | $11.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.22 | $1.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Circle Pines, MN
Morning in Circle Pines on Sunday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
2 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
32m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize several major arteries, the route is characterized by frequent transitions between I-494, I-94, and I-35W. There is no significant highway-only stretch here, as the longest uninterrupted segment on I-494 North is 0 miles. This dynamic road profile requires you to stay alert and ready for multiple lane changes. You will experience a mix of suburban traffic flow that keeps the drive engaging despite the relatively short distance.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.5 mi on I 694.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 694 and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 11 decision points packed into just 25.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 32m. Total distance: 25.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.5 miles on I 694. 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 Circle Pines, 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: near the start: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (I 694): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Circle Pines, 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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