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Trip from Plymouth, MN to Lake Crystal, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

88.9 mi

143 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Devon, England

Plymouth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lake Crystal, MN, MN

Lake Crystal, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Plymouth, MN to Lake Crystal, MN covers 88.9 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 169, US 212, I 494 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.6 miles on US 169. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.08 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44.5 miles from Plymouth, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 169 56.6 mi 1h 9m
US 212 12.7 mi 14m
I 494 9.8 mi 12m
County Road 11 5.4 mi 8m
Jonathan Carver Parkway 2 mi 3m
County Road 40 0.6 mi <1m
North Main Street 0.5 mi 1m
MN 55 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 169 — 56.6 mi, about 1h 9m

Traffic on I-494

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,224 veh/hr typical · worst 3,798

Quietest

2 AM

~77 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

41.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 84 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Lake Crystal, 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

9.8 mi · 12 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Exit 11C Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Merge onto US 212; MN 5

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 212

12 mi · 13 min · US 212
Use the slight left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto CR 11

310 ft · 5 sec · County Road 11
9

Continue on CR 11

1.1 mi · 1 min · Jonathan Carver Parkway
10

Enter roundabout onto CR 11

111 ft · 2 sec · Jonathan Carver Parkway
11

Continue on CR 11

0.9 mi · 1 min · Jonathan Carver Parkway
12

Continue on CR 11; CR 40

0.6 mi · 55 sec · County Road 40
13

Turn left onto CR 11

5.4 mi · 7 min · County Road 11
14

Turn right onto US 169

5.7 mi · 6 min · US 169
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on US 169

3.8 mi · 4 min · US 169
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on US 169

24 mi · 29 min · US 169
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on US 169; MN 99

14 mi · 18 min · US 169; MN 99
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 169; MN 60

9.1 mi · 10 min · US 169; MN 60
19

Take the exit onto CR 76

0.1 mi · 24 sec · North Main Street
20

Continue on CR 76

0.4 mi · 56 sec · North Main Street
21

Turn right onto CR 74

74 ft · 2 sec · West Prince Street
22

Arrive at destination

CR 74

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.5 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 20 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 44.5 miles or 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Crystal, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Plymouth, MN

This is one driving day of about 88.9 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Plymouth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 169 for about 56.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jordan, MN

44 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

Shorewood, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Henderson, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.5 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 23.4 — 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.
8
10.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward MN 5 West, US 212 West

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 11C Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
6
11.8 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 212

Keep slight left at fork onto US 212

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
23.4 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CR 11: Jonathan Carver Parkway

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.08 one way

$28.15 round trip

$4.02/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.28 $14.99 $29.98
premium $4.85 $16.97 $33.94
diesel $5.60 $19.60 $39.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.7 0 $9.33 $4.27
Efficient EV 22.2 0 $7.78 $3.56
EV Truck/SUV 35.6 0 $12.45 $5.69

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Plymouth, MN

Late night in Plymouth on Friday

Local time

2:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

NE 0 to 5 mph 55% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 10:19PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 10:18PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Destination

Lake Crystal, MN

Late night in Lake Crystal on Friday

Local time

2:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 5 mph 84% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 10:19PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued September 1 at 10:18PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

64°F

Jordan, MN

44 mi in

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 52m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

88.9 mi in 1h 52m, mostly highway — 56.6 mi of that is on US 169.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.6 mi on US 169.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 169 and US 212. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

998 ft 753 ft

Total Climb

508 ft

Total Descent

488 ft

Highest Point

998 ft

~88.9 mi in

Elevation Range

245 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Plymouth, MN

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Lake Crystal, MN

Full guide →

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 1h 52m. Total distance: 88.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 56.6 miles on US 169. 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 Lake Crystal, 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: 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 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Crystal, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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