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Trip from Cambridge, MN to Plymouth, MN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

51.9 mi

84 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Cambridge, MN, MN

Cambridge, MN

Tom Fisk

city in Devon, England

Plymouth, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 51.9-mile drive from Cambridge to Plymouth, Minnesota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway and MN 65, with a significant portion on MN-610, making for a largely highway experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8, which is quite economical. Given its relatively short distance and efficient route, this drive is ideal for a quick transition between locations within the Midwest region of Minnesota, offering a practical and budget-friendly option for your travels.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 51.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 60% of the journey utilizing highway speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.2 miles along the Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway. While much of the drive offers a smooth, relatively fast pace, you'll experience transitions as you move between different main roads like MN 65 and MN-610. This blend means you'll get a taste of both open highway cruising and potentially some more varied road conditions as you approach your destination in Plymouth.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near MN 65.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 19.2 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.3 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
19.2 mi into trip | ~23m in | MN 65

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 65

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
31.2 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward US 10 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward US 10 West
6
32.3 mi into trip | ~40m in | MN 610 / MN-610

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610 / MN-610

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
39.7 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward US 169 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 5A Toward US 169 South
7
50.9 mi into trip | ~1h 3m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway 18.2 mi 21m
MN 65 12 mi 15m
MN-610 7.4 mi 8m
I 494 5.2 mi 6m
US 169 3.2 mi 3m
I 94 1.6 mi 2m
US 10 0.8 mi <1m
MN 55 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway — 18.2 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MN and Plymouth, MN.

1

Start on MN 95

0.6 mi · 1 min · 1st Avenue West
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec
3

Merge onto MN 65

18 mi · 21 min · Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway
Use the right lane.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 65

12 mi · 15 min · MN 65
Use the left lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 10 West Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto US 10

0.8 mi · 49 sec · US 10
7

Keep slight right at fork onto MN 610

7.4 mi · 8 min · MN-610
Use the slight right lane.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 5A Toward US 169 South Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Merge onto US 169

3.2 mi · 3 min · US 169
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 94 West Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 94; I 694

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 94; I 694
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 494 South Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Continue on I 494

5.2 mi · 6 min · I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 22 Toward MN 55 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn left onto MN 55

0.4 mi · 47 sec · MN 55
Use the left / straight lanes.
16

Continue on MN 55

0.3 mi · 41 sec · MN 55
17

Arrive at destination

MN 55

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26 mi from Cambridge, MN · 32m into the drive

city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blaine, MN

26 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

Saint Francis, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ham Lake, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26 miles from Cambridge, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Plymouth, MN

The final approach into Plymouth, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.72 one way

$15.45 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $8.32 $16.64
premium $4.53 $9.26 $18.52
diesel $5.61 $11.46 $22.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.6 0 $5.45 $2.49
Efficient EV 13 0 $4.54 $2.08
EV Truck/SUV 20.8 0 $7.27 $3.32

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cambridge, MN

Evening in Cambridge on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plymouth, MN

Evening in Plymouth on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

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

1h 5m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cambridge, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway, MN 65, MN-610. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 26 miles from Cambridge, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (MN 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.3 miles (MN 610 / MN-610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Cambridge, MN to Plymouth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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