Origin
Zimmerman, MN
Late night in Zimmerman on Sunday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zimmerman, 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
41m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zimmerman, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Zimmerman to Plymouth is 33.7 miles and takes about 41 minutes via US Highway 169, I 94, and MN 101, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Minnesota, moving you from the Midwest's familiar landscapes into the heart of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It's a short, convenient trip primarily on major highways, ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion. Given its brevity, this route doesn't require extensive planning, making it accessible for spontaneous travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 169 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| I 94 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| MN 101 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| I 494 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| MN 55 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 261st Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| POW/MIA Memorial Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 169
— 10.9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zimmerman, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on 2nd Street West
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
2nd Street West
2
Turn right onto 261st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
261st Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 169
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 169
4
Continue on US 169
383 ft
·
4 sec
·
POW/MIA Memorial Highway
5
Continue on MN 101
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
MN 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
7
Merge onto I 94
8.3 mi
·
9 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
261st Avenue
Turn right onto 261st Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
18.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 East: Minneapolis, Saint Paul
5
18.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
32.7 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.02 one way
$10.03 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.40 | $10.81 |
| premium | $4.53 | $6.01 | $12.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
4:58 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
18 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
41m 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 overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on US Highway 169, I 94, and MN 101, experiencing consistent speeds and efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 10.9 miles on US Highway 169, offering a good period of steady driving. Expect a practical, functional road experience rather than one marked by winding country lanes or frequent scenic detours.
95% 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: 10.9 mi on US Highway 169.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 169 and I 94. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 261st Avenue.
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 33.7 miles you will encounter 7 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 (261st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Zimmerman, MN to Plymouth, MN, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
18.1 mi in
|
~21m
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 41m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on US Highway 169. 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.
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 (261st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles (I 94): 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 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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