Origin
Chanhassen, MN
Evening in Chanhassen on Sunday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chanhassen, MN to Plymouth, MN
Drive Time
20m
Distance
13.7 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chanhassen, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or a short excursion within the Minnesota Midwest, the trip from Chanhassen to Plymouth is an incredibly efficient choice. Spanning just 13.7 miles, this route typically takes about 20 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. You will not need to worry about lodging or overnight planning, as the drive is easily manageable in one go. With an estimated fuel cost of only $2, it is a very budget-friendly way to navigate between these two communities. This trip serves as a straightforward connection across the region rather than a long-haul adventure, offering a practical solution for your transit needs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.9 miles from Chanhassen, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as this route relies on major arteries like I-494, Minnesota State Highway 7, and Chanhassen Road. With roughly 66% of the trip spent on highways, you will get up to speed quickly once you leave local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during a 5.7-mile segment on I-494, which defines the core of your time behind the wheel. The transition from local roads to a faster, interstate-heavy flow gives the drive a functional, utilitarian personality. You will spend most of your time focused on steady highway traffic as you transition between these two Minnesota locations.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 494 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 494 and Minnesota State Highway 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near CR 101 / County Road 101.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.7 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 2.5 miles (CR 101 / County Road 101): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR 101 / County Road 101
Turn left onto CR 101 / County Road 101
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 North
7
12.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward MN 55
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward MN 55
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
MN 55
Turn right onto MN 55
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 494 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Minnesota State Highway 7 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Chanhassen Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| County Road 101 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| MN 55 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 78th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| CR 101 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 494
— 5.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chanhassen, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on West 78th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
West 78th Street
2
Turn left onto MN 101
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Chanhassen Road
3
Continue on CR 101
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
CR 101
4
Turn left onto CR 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 101
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto MN 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the none lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MN 7
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Minnesota State Highway 7
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 494
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 22
Toward MN 55
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto MN 55
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
MN 55
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on MN 55
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
MN 55
Use the none lane.
12
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief 20-minute drive, you have immense flexibility in your schedule, allowing you to bypass the need for rest stops or meal breaks entirely. You should anticipate a standard highway transit experience, so check local traffic reports before departing to ensure your 13.7-mile trip remains as quick as possible. Because the entire route is so short, you will not need to plan for refueling along the way, though keeping a $2 reserve for gas is more than sufficient. My best advice for this specific path is to time your departure to avoid peak rush hours on I-494, as that 5.7-mile stretch can become congested during morning and evening commutes.
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 6.9 miles from Chanhassen, MN, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.7 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 13.7 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.9 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
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 Chanhassen, 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 Chanhassen, MN
This is one driving day of about 13.7 miles and 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chanhassen, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 494 for about 5.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.9 mi from Chanhassen, MN · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.9 miles from Chanhassen, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Plymouth, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.96 one way
$3.92 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $2.11 | $4.23 |
| premium | $4.39 | $2.37 | $4.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.04 | $6.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Evening in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
7 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
20m 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 Chanhassen, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 13.7 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 494, Minnesota State Highway 7, Chanhassen Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.9 miles from Chanhassen, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.96 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 is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (CR 101 / County Road 101): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (MN 7 / Minnesota State Highway 7): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chanhassen, MN to Plymouth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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