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Trip from Plymouth, MN to Sylvan, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

121.8 mi

196 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 15m ★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Devon, England

Plymouth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sylvan, MN, MN

Sylvan, MN

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Plymouth, MN to Sylvan, MN is 121.8 miles and takes about 2h 25m via US 10, MN 371, and I 94, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily in Minnesota, offering a straightforward journey. It's a solid option for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The route is largely highway-focused, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

60.9 miles from Plymouth, MN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 10 54.4 mi 1h 3m
MN 371 25.8 mi 29m
I 94 22.6 mi 24m
State Highway 210 5.8 mi 7m
I 494 5 mi 6m
Highland Scenic Drive South 2 mi 3m
165th Avenue Southeast 1.8 mi 2m
Park Boulevard Southeast 1.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 10 — 54.4 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Sylvan, 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 left at fork

0.6 mi · 49 sec
Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 94

17 mi · 18 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

6.0 mi · 6 min · I 94
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
9

Turn right onto MN 25

0.8 mi · 2 min · Pine Street
10

Continue on MN 25

0.1 mi · 19 sec · State Highway 25
11

Turn left onto County Road 11

0.7 mi · 53 sec · County Road 11
12

Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

1.4 mi · 1 min · Park Boulevard Southeast
13

Continue on 165th Avenue Southeast

1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast
14

Turn left onto US 10

54 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 10
15

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 371

26 mi · 29 min · MN 371
16

Turn left onto CR 48

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Highland Scenic Drive South
17

Enter roundabout onto CR 48

221 ft · 7 sec · Highland Scenic Drive South
18

Continue on CR 48

1.6 mi · 2 min · Highland Scenic Drive South
19

At end of road, turn left onto MN 210

5.8 mi · 7 min · State Highway 210
20

Arrive at destination

MN 210

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 2h 25m, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and arrive with plenty of time to settle in. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, you won't need to worry extensively about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Plymouth. The longest stretch without a significant change in road is 54.4 miles on US 10, so plan your breaks accordingly.

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 60.9 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 27 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.9 miles or 1h 12m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sylvan, 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 121.8 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Plymouth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city on tripoint of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Cloud, MN

61 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

Big Lake, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Cloud, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.9 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rogers, Minnesota

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 17.4

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Barista Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Little Falls, Minnesota

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13204142230

Visit website

StoneHouse Coffee & Roastery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Baxter, Minnesota

3 mi

Maynard's Restaurant of Rogers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 17.4

Rogers, Minnesota

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+17634280700

Visit website

Lynde’s Restaurant & Catering

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 8.7

Osseo, Minnesota

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17634243696

Visit website

Barista Coffee Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 87

Little Falls, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+13204142230

Visit website

District Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 52.2

St Cloud, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+13203422040

Visit website

StoneHouse Coffee & Roastery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.1

Baxter, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12184542835

Visit website

Coco Moon Coffee Co

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 113.1

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Loco Espress Coffee House & Boutique

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 113.1

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12183304335

Visit website

Playground Plaza

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 8.7

Maple Grove, Minnesota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17632283833

Visit website

Safari North Wildlife Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 113.1

Brainerd, Minnesota

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+12184541662

Visit website

Summerland Family Fun Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 52.2

Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Hours: Closed

+13202510940

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.3 — 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
5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 494 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 494 North
5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 494

Merge onto I 494

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward I 94 West: Saint Cloud
5
114.3 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in | CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South

Enter roundabout onto CR 48 / Highland Scenic Drive South

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.13 one way

$36.25 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $19.53 $39.06
premium $4.53 $21.73 $43.46
diesel $5.61 $26.89 $53.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.5 0 $12.79 $5.85
Efficient EV 30.5 0 $10.66 $4.87
EV Truck/SUV 48.7 0 $17.05 $7.80

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sylvan, MN

Night in Sylvan on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°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

19 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 25m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 93% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a mostly fast-paced experience, particularly on stretches of US 10 and I 94. The longest uninterrupted segment is 54.4 miles on US 10, so be prepared for a sustained period on this highway. While the route is largely direct, the transition between US 10, MN 371, and I 94 will offer slight shifts in the driving environment.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on US 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and MN 371. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 121.8 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: near the start: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; near the start: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.4 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Plymouth, MN

Full guide →

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 2h 25m. Total distance: 121.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on US 10. 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 Sylvan, 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. 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; near the start: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.4 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sylvan, 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.

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