Origin
Plymouth, MN
Evening in Plymouth on Friday
Local time
8:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MN to Dahlgren, MN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
25.8 mi
42 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Dahlgren, MN
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MN to Dahlgren, MN is 25.8 miles and takes about 31 minutes via US 212, I 494, and MN 55, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Minnesota, making it a convenient local excursion. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for those looking for a quick drive without extensive planning. Consider this route for a simple commute or a brief change of scenery.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 25.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 97% of the journey on major roads. You'll experience a mostly high-speed environment, transitioning between US 212, I 494, and MN 55. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 15.1 miles on US 212, offering a sustained period of highway travel. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on efficient travel between your starting and ending points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 212 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 212 and I 494. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.8 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn sharp left toward I 494 South
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 494 South
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 494
Merge onto I 494
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 212; MN 5
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 212
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 212 | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| I 494 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| MN 55 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| County Road 43 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 212
— 15.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MN and Dahlgren, MN.
1
Start on MN 55
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
MN 55
2
Turn sharp left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 494 South
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 494
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 11C
Toward MN 5 West, US 212 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 212; MN 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 212; MN 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 212
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 212
Use the slight left lane.
7
Turn right onto CR 43
143 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Road 43
8
Arrive at destination
CR 43
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.84 one way
$7.68 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.53 | $4.60 | $9.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Dahlgren, MN
Evening in Dahlgren on Friday
Local time
8:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
2 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
31m 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 Plymouth, MN to Dahlgren, MN covers 25.8 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 212, I 494, MN 55. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.9 miles from Plymouth, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.84 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 25.8 miles you will encounter 6 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 0.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (I 494): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Plymouth, MN to Dahlgren, 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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