Plymouth, MN to Thief River Falls, MN is 285 miles and takes about 5h 30m via US 10, US 59, and I 94, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest trip stays within Minnesota, offering a straightforward drive through familiar terrain. With a 98% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
142.5 miles from Plymouth, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
156.7 mi
3h
US 59
94.4 mi
1h 48m
I 94
22.6 mi
24m
I 494
5 mi
6m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Pine Street
0.8 mi
2m
County Road 11
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 156.7 mi, about 3h
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,539
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 47 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 Thief River Falls, 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 27Toward I 94 West: Saint CloudUse 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 left at fork onto US 10
38 mi·42 min·US 10
16
Turn straight onto US 10; MN 210
8.5 mi·9 min·US 10; MN 210
17
Continue on US 10; IC A
11 mi·12 min·US 10; IC A
18
Turn slight right
67 ft·2 sec
19
Enter roundabout
100 ft·1 sec
20
Continue
96 ft·1 sec
21
Turn straight onto US 10
45 mi·51 min·US 10
22
Turn right onto US 59; MN 34
85 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 59; MN 34
23
Turn left
481 ft·6 sec
24
Merge onto US 59
9.4 mi·11 min·US 59
25
Arrive at destination
US 59
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, leaving Plymouth, MN in the morning is ideal, giving you ample daylight to reach Thief River Falls. The route is efficient enough to be completed in a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider stopping around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 156.7-mile stretch on US 10, as services might be less frequent in some sections. The estimated fuel cost of $43 should help you budget for gas stops along the way.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 142.5 miles from Plymouth, MN, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thief River Falls, 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 285 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Plymouth, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 156.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 145.5 — 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
6
145.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.81 one way
$85.61 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$46.22
$92.43
premium
$4.60
$51.63
$103.25
diesel
$4.80
$53.81
$107.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.93
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.94
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.90
$18.24
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Plymouth, MN
Afternoon
in Plymouth on Saturday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 to 10 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Thief River Falls, MN
Afternoon
in Thief River Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Smoke
NNW 3 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
10 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 285 miles on major roads like US 10, US 59, and I 94. You'll experience 156.7 miles of continuous cruising on US 10, which is the longest stretch without needing to change highways. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and relatively frequent exits for much of the drive.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.7 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and US 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 285 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 285 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 miles on US 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Thief River Falls, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thief River Falls, MN before the return drive.
