Brainerd, MN to Plymouth, MN is 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 23m via US 10 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Minnesota, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on main roads, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between these two areas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.1 miles from Brainerd, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 10
54.5 mi
1h 3m
C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
25.8 mi
29m
I 94
21.1 mi
22m
I 494
5.2 mi
6m
Highland Scenic Drive South
2.5 mi
3m
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi
2m
Broadway Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 10
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brainerd, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on MN 371 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Laurel Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Laurel Street
3
Continue on West Laurel Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Laurel Street
4
Continue on CR 48
1.2 mi·1 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 48
108 ft·3 sec·Highland Scenic Drive South
6
Continue on CR 48
1.3 mi·1 min·Highland Scenic Drive South
7
Turn left onto MN 371
26 mi·29 min·C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway
8
Merge onto US 10
28 mi·32 min·US 10
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
26 mi·30 min·US 10
10
Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi·2 min·165th Avenue Southeast
11
Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast
1.4 mi·1 min·Park Boulevard Southeast
12
Continue on County Road 11
0.7 mi·57 sec·County Road 11
13
Turn right onto MN 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·State Highway 25
14
Continue on MN 25
0.3 mi·42 sec·Pine Street
15
Turn left onto CR 75
1.5 mi·2 min·Broadway Street East
16
Turn right onto CR 18
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fenning Avenue
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
18
Merge onto I 94
21 mi·22 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 216Toward I 494 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 494
5.2 mi·6 min·I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 22Toward MN 55Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto MN 55
0.4 mi·47 sec·MN 55
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on MN 55
0.3 mi·41 sec·MN 55
24
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 23m, this is a comfortable one-day trip. You can easily depart from Brainerd any time of day and arrive in Plymouth with plenty of daylight remaining. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps stopping for fuel or a quick stretch at one of the many service areas along US 10 or I 94. Keep in mind the estimated fuel cost of $18, which is quite manageable for this distance. A good tip is to be aware of potential traffic as you approach the Minneapolis metropolitan area, especially during weekday rush hours.
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 59.1 miles from Brainerd, MN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 Plymouth, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brainerd, 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 Brainerd, MN
This is one driving day of about 118.2 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Brainerd, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 10 for about 54.5 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 0.2 and 117.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Laurel Street
Turn right onto Laurel Street
Navigation decision point
5
29.6 mi into trip|~36m in|US 10
Merge onto US 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
90.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m 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
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
$17.59 one way
$35.18 round trip
$3.78/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.07
$18.95
$37.91
premium
$4.53
$21.09
$42.18
diesel
$5.61
$26.10
$52.19
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: 41.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.41
$5.67
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.34
$4.73
EV Truck/SUV
47.3
0
$16.55
$7.56
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Brainerd, MN
Afternoon
in Brainerd on Saturday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plymouth, MN
Afternoon
in Plymouth on Saturday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
8 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 23m 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 trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 69% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll experience some continuous driving, including a stretch of 54.5 miles on US 10. The C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway and I 94 contribute to the predominantly high-speed nature of this journey. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations from major roadways, offering a direct path between your starting and ending points.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on US 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 10 and C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Laurel Street.
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 11 significant decision points across 118.2 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 0.2 miles (Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 miles (I 94): 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 2h 23m. Total distance: 118.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.6 miles (US 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.5 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.
