Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
29.7 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Ham Lake, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN to Ham Lake, MN is 29.7 miles and takes about 39m via Central Avenue Northeast and I-494, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Minnesota. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface street travel, making it a straightforward option for a quick trip. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a same-day excursion without needing extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Avenue Northeast | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| MN-610 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| I 494 | 5 mi | 6m |
| US 169 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| I 94 | 2 mi | 2m |
| US 10 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| 157th Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Jackson Street Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Ham Lake, MN.
Start on MN 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 494
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 94; I 694
Take the exit
Merge onto US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto MN 610
Merge onto US 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto MN 65
Take the exit
Turn left
Turn straight onto 157th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto Jackson Street Northeast
Turn right onto 154th Avenue Northeast
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 19.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Take the exit toward US 169 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 610 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MN 65: Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.70 one way
$9.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.28 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
| premium | $4.85 | $5.67 | $11.34 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $6.55 | $13.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Plymouth on Friday
Local time
1:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Ham Lake on Friday
Local time
1:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive features a 60% highway share, with the longest stretch on surface roads covering 8.5 miles on Central Avenue Northeast. You'll transition from highway speeds on I-494 to navigating surface streets as you approach your destination. Expect a mixed driving experience with periods of faster travel interspersed with more localized road conditions.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 16 decision points packed into just 29.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
54 ft
Total Descent
132 ft
Highest Point
978 ft
Elevation Range
120 ft
Founded 1852
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 29.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Plymouth, MN or browse trips ending in Ham Lake, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
