Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
16.4 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Plymouth, MN to Independence, MN is 16.4 miles and takes about 22 minutes via Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway and I-494, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota. It's a quick hop that mostly utilizes surface roads, making it an easy and straightforward drive for a local excursion. You'll find it a convenient option if you're looking to cover a small distance without much fuss, perfect for a quick errand or a short visit.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa | 11 mi | 14m |
| I 494 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Valley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| MN 55 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Independence, MN.
Start on MN 55
Turn sharp left
Merge onto I 494
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn right onto Valley Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 3.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left toward I 494 South
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 West: Wayzata
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 12 / Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highwa
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.44 one way
$4.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $2.63 | $5.26 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.93 | $5.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
Destination
Late night in Independence on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
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 is primarily on surface roads, with only 14% on highways. You'll experience about 11 miles on Officer Bill Mathews Memorial Highway before transitioning to local streets. Expect a steady pace with frequent intersections as you navigate the local road network. The limited highway time means you'll be more aware of traffic signals and cross-streets throughout most of your travel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
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 16.4 miles you will encounter 7 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 16.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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