Origin
Lakewood, MN
Night in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, MN to Plymouth, MN
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
169.6 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, MN
Tom Fisk
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakewood, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, I 35W, MN 61 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.1 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.24 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.8 miles from Lakewood, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 18m highway drive covering 169.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and I 35W. The longest continuous stretch is about 132.1 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 132.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lakewood Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 169.6 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: near the start (Lakewood Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 138.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lakewood Road
Turn sharp right onto Lakewood Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
138.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
7
153.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m 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
158.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 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
162.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 5m 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 35 | 132.1 mi | 2h 24m |
| I 35W | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| MN 61 | 6.4 mi | 12m |
| I 694 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| 42nd Avenue North | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| MN 100 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Northwest Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| MN 55 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 132.1 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, MN and Plymouth, MN.
1
Start on East Superior Street
35 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Superior Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Lakewood Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lakewood Road
3
Turn sharp left onto MN 61
6.4 mi
·
12 min
·
MN 61
4
Turn left onto I 35
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
128 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35W
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Minneapolis
Use the straight / 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.8 miles from Lakewood, MN, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.1 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, MN
This is one driving day of about 169.6 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lakewood, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 132.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.8 mi from Lakewood, MN · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.8 miles from Lakewood, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.1 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.24 one way
$50.48 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $27.20 | $54.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $30.26 | $60.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.45 | $74.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.81 | $8.14 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.84 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.74 | $10.85 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Plymouth, MN
Night in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
9:46 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
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
3h 18m 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 Lakewood, MN to Plymouth, MN covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, I 35W, MN 61. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.8 miles from Lakewood, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 169.6 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: near the start (Lakewood Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 138.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 153.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lakewood, MN to Plymouth, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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