Origin
Circle Pines, MN
Late night in Circle Pines on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Circle Pines, MN to Plymouth, MN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
34m
Distance
22.6 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Circle Pines, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Circle Pines, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 22.6 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 694, 42nd Avenue North, I 35W for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.9 miles on I 694. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
11.3 miles from Circle Pines, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Circle Pines, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 22.6 miles and takes about 34m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 694 is the longest continuous segment at about 4.9 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 0.1 miles in near CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 22.6 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Turn right onto CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
6.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 694 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MN 100
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
7
15.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 694 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| I 35W | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| MN 100 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Lake Drive Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Northwest Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| MN 55 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Crossway Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 694
— 4.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Circle Pines, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on Crossway Drive
329 ft
·
14 sec
·
Crossway Drive
2
Turn right onto Pine Drive
287 ft
·
16 sec
·
Pine Drive
3
Turn right onto CH 23
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Drive Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35W South
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 35W
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26C
Toward I 694 West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 694
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 694
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35A
Toward MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MN 100
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 12A
Toward CR 9: 42nd Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR 9
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
42nd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 61
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto MN 55
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
MN 55
15
Arrive at destination
MN 55
Trip Plan
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 11.3 miles from Circle Pines, MN, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.9 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 22.6 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.3 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
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 Circle Pines, 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 Circle Pines, MN
This is one driving day of about 22.6 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Circle Pines, 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 694 for about 4.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.3 mi from Circle Pines, MN · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.3 miles from Circle Pines, 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
$3.36 one way
$6.73 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $3.62 | $7.25 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.03 | $8.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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 Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
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
32 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
34m 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 Circle Pines, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 22.6 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 694, 42nd Avenue North, I 35W. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.3 miles from Circle Pines, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.36 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 11 significant decision points across 22.6 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 0.1 miles (CH 23 / Lake Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Circle Pines, MN to Plymouth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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