Origin
Plymouth, MN
Morning in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MN to Sunrise, MN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
62.8 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Sunrise, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MN to Sunrise, MN is 62.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes via I-35W and I-35, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Minnesota, making it a straightforward, single-day trip. It's a highway-focused journey that offers a predictable travel experience. The route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major interstates. Consider this an easy hop if you're looking for a quick transition between two points in Minnesota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 19.8 mi | 21m |
| I 35 | 15.5 mi | 16m |
| I 694 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 94 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| I 494 | 5 mi | 6m |
| Saint Croix Trail | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Wilcox Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 19.8 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Sunrise, 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
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward MN 95: Cambridge, North Branch
13
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on MN 95
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on MN 95
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Saint Croix Trail
16
Enter roundabout
126 ft
·
2 sec
17
Continue
329 ft
·
6 sec
18
Turn straight onto MN 95
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Saint Croix Trail
19
Turn slight left onto CR 67
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Keystone Avenue
20
Turn right onto Wilcox Road
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Wilcox Road
21
Turn left onto Mill Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Mill Street
22
Turn left onto River Road
287 ft
·
12 sec
·
River Road
23
Arrive at destination
River Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 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 165 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
$9.35 one way
$18.69 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
| premium | $4.53 | $11.21 | $22.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.87 | $27.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Sunrise, MN
Morning in Sunrise on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
19 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
1h 20m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey on major interstates. You'll navigate segments of I-35W and I-35, experiencing the characteristic flow of interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 19.8 miles on I-35W, providing a solid period of consistent speed. Expect a smooth, consistent pace for the majority of your trip. The road character remains largely that of a high-speed, limited-access highway throughout.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and I 35. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 16 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: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Plymouth, MN to Sunrise, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Branch along the way.
Branch
54 mi in
|
~1h 1m
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.
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 20m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on I 35W. 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 Sunrise, 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 Sunrise, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sunrise, MN
Explore more options from Plymouth, MN or browse trips ending in Sunrise, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.