If you are planning a trip from Plymouth to Cloquet, you are looking at a straightforward 146.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 42 minutes to complete. This route is entirely within the Midwest, keeping you on familiar Minnesota terrain for the duration of the trip. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, saving you the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route relies heavily on major interstates, it is a highly efficient way to move between these two points without unnecessary detours.
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
73.1 miles from Plymouth, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
105 mi
1h 52m
I 35W
19.8 mi
21m
I 694
6.5 mi
7m
I 94
6.3 mi
7m
I 494
5 mi
6m
MN 33
2.7 mi
4m
Cloquet Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
MN 55
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 105 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Cloquet, 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 EastUse 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 41BToward I 35W NorthUse 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
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 35
12
Take the exit onto MN 33
0.6 mi·58 sec·MN 33
Toward MN 33: Cloquet, Iron Range
13
Enter roundabout onto MN 33
127 ft·1 sec·MN 33
14
Continue on MN 33
2.1 mi·3 min·MN 33
15
Turn right onto CR 45
465 ft·14 sec·Cloquet Avenue
16
Turn right onto 4th Street
26 ft·1 sec·4th Street
17
Arrive at destination
4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around traffic patterns. You only need to account for one stop to keep the trip comfortable and efficient. Since you are spending nearly the entire journey on major highways, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longest 105-mile stretch of I-35 to ensure you aren't forced to stop in an inconvenient location. If you prefer to avoid the heaviest congestion on the interstates, try to time your departure to miss typical morning or evening rush hours. This simple approach ensures you arrive in Cloquet refreshed and ready to go.
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 73.1 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 21m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cloquet, 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 146.2 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 I 35 for about 105 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.8 — 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
6
21.8 mi into trip|~26m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.76 one way
$43.51 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$23.44
$46.89
premium
$4.53
$26.09
$52.17
diesel
$5.61
$32.28
$64.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.9
0
$15.35
$7.02
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.79
$5.85
EV Truck/SUV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Night
in Plymouth on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cloquet, MN
Night
in Cloquet on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
9 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
2h 42m 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?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 99% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate via I-35W, I-694, and the primary I-35 corridor, which keeps the pace steady from start to finish. The bulk of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a single, uninterrupted 105-mile stretch along I-35. Because this is primarily an interstate drive, the character of the road remains consistent throughout, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. It is a no-nonsense commute that allows you to cover significant ground quickly while maintaining a steady cruising speed.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 146.2 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; 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.
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 42m. Total distance: 146.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on I 35. 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 Cloquet, 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: 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 Cloquet, MN before heading back.
