Wilson, MN to Plymouth, MN is 139.7 miles and takes about 2h 44m via US 52 and I-90, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a highway-focused drive that's efficient for getting between these two points. It's a straightforward journey, ideal for a single day of travel without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.9 miles from Wilson, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 52
75.2 mi
1h 27m
I 90
19.7 mi
21m
MN 55
16.7 mi
22m
MN 43
14.6 mi
16m
US 169
6.2 mi
7m
Crosstown Highway
6.2 mi
7m
County Road 12
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilson, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on CR 12
338 ft·9 sec·County Road 12
2
Turn left onto MN 43
0.2 mi·20 sec·MN 43
3
Take the ramp onto MN 43
14 mi·15 min·MN 43
4
Continue on I 90
20 mi·21 min·I 90
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 218Toward US 52: Rochester
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward US 52 North: Rochester
7
Merge onto US 52
9.7 mi·11 min·US 52
8
Continue on US 52; US 63
17 mi·19 min·US 52; US 63
9
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi·10 min·US 52
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 52
40 mi·45 min·US 52
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55
13 mi·17 min·MN 55
Exit 121Toward MN 55 West: MinneapolisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62
6.2 mi·7 min·Crosstown Highway
Toward I 35W South, MN 62Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 105BToward US 169 NorthUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 169
6.2 mi·7 min·US 169
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward MN 55 WestUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto MN 55
3.5 mi·4 min·MN 55
17
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip. You can leave anytime and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 75.2-mile stretch on US 52, as gas stations might be less frequent. Plan your fuel stops strategically to avoid any unnecessary detours.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.9 miles from Wilson, MN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.2 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 31 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plymouth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wilson, 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 Wilson, MN
This is one driving day of about 139.7 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Wilson, 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 52 for about 75.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.4 and 136.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34.4 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward US 52: Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 218
Toward US 52: Rochester
8
110 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|MN 55
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 55 toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 121
Toward MN 55 West: Minneapolis
8
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|MN 62 / Crosstown Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 62 / Crosstown Highway toward I 35W South, MN 62
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W South, MN 62
7
129.4 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 169 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 105B
Toward US 169 North
6
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward MN 55 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward MN 55 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.79 one way
$41.58 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$22.40
$44.80
premium
$4.53
$24.93
$49.85
diesel
$5.61
$30.84
$61.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
EV Truck/SUV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 20, 2026
Origin
Wilson, MN
Late night
in Wilson on Tuesday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plymouth, MN
Late night
in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Vermillion, MN
70 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
16 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 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the journey on major roads. You'll experience a highway-focused profile for most of the 139.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 75.2 miles on US 52, offering a good period of steady travel. While primarily highway, the transition between US 52, I-90, and MN 55 will provide some variation in the road's character as you progress.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.2 mi on US 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 139.7 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: at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 110 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (MN 62 / Crosstown Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 44m. Total distance: 139.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.2 miles on US 52. 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 Plymouth, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 110 miles (MN 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.2 miles (MN 62 / Crosstown Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Plymouth, MN before heading back.
