Origin
Waite Park, MN
Morning in Waite Park on Sunday
Local time
9:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waite Park, MN to Plymouth, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
59.4 mi
96 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 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waite Park, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Waite Park to Plymouth is 59.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 11 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a quick hop between locations. Given the short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day journey without needing an overnight stay. You'll want to consider traffic, especially if traveling during peak hours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 45.4 mi | 48m |
| I 494 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Roosevelt Road | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| 2nd Street South | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Division Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| MN 55 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| MN-15 S | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 6th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waite Park, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on 6th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
6th Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 75
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Division Street
3
Turn right onto MN 15; MN 23; CR 75
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
MN-15 S
4
Turn left onto CR 75
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street South
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CR 75
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Roosevelt Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
45 mi
·
48 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 494
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 22
Toward MN 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto MN 55
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
MN 55
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on MN 55
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
MN 55
13
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Waite Park, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 58.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 75 / 2nd Street South
Turn left onto CR 75 / 2nd Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 494 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 216
Toward I 494 South
7
58.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward MN 55
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward MN 55
4
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
MN 55
Turn left onto MN 55
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.84 one way
$17.68 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.11 | $26.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.20 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.32 | $3.80 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Plymouth, MN
Morning in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
9:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
20 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 11m 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 a highway-focused drive for 87% of its length, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 45.4 miles on I 94, offering a consistent pace. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal diversions from the main highway. The profile suggests a direct and efficient journey, prioritizing speed and ease of navigation over varied scenery. It’s the kind of drive where you can settle in and cover ground quickly.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 494. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near CR 75 / 2nd Street South.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 11m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (CR 75 / 2nd Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 11m. Total distance: 59.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.4 miles (CR 75 / 2nd Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plymouth, 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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