How far is Detroit Lakes, MN from Plymouth, MN?

The driving distance from Detroit Lakes, MN to Plymouth, MN is about 194.1 miles (312.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.6 miles (273 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
194.13 mi
03h 06m
Flight
169.63 mi
272.99 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit Lakes.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.63 mi
Kilometers
272.99 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
194.13 mi
Kilometers
312.43 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Plymouth
Tue, May 5, 5:39 AM CDT
Return by in Detroit Lakes
Tue, May 5, 8:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit Lakes
2026-05-05T02:33
Arrive Plymouth
Tue, May 5, 5:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit Lakes
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Randall
MN

City in Minnesota, USA

From Detroit Lakes
95.1 mi
01h 33m
To Plymouth
99 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
45°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph NW
Destination
53°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Detroit Lakes and Plymouth.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Detroit Lakes and Plymouth.

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Avenue

    734 ft · 32 sec · Washington Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right

    44.3 mi · 51 min

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    31 m · 2 sec

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout

    20 m · 1 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Ash Avenue Northwest

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Ash Avenue Northwest

  6. 6

    Continue on West Mason Avenue

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min · West Mason Avenue

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    26.1 mi · 31 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto 165th Avenue Southeast

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 165th Avenue Southeast

  9. 9

    Continue on Park Boulevard Southeast

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Park Boulevard Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on County Road 11

    1.1 km · 58 sec · County Road 11

  11. 11

    Turn right onto State Highway 25

    540 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 25

  12. 12

    Continue on Pine Street

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Pine Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Broadway Street East

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway Street East

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Fenning Avenue

    1727 ft · 40 sec · Fenning Avenue

  15. 15

    Take the ramp left

    1892 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    21.1 mi · 23 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 494 South

    2227 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward MN 55

    1335 ft · 35 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left

    2341 ft · 48 sec

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    1610 ft · 42 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Detroit Lakes and Plymouth.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Mason Avenue
105 mi · 54%
Fenning Avenue
21.8 mi · 11%
Ash Avenue Northwest
7.26 mi · 4%
I 494 South
5.59 mi · 3%
165th Avenue Southeast
1.8 mi · 1%
Broadway Street East
1.48 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

West Mason Avenue

Continue on West Mason Avenue

78.4 mi · 01h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.5 mi
169.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Randall
01h 33m from Detroit Lakes
Leave By
10:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Detroit Lakes and Mostly Sunny near Plymouth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Detroit Lakes to Plymouth?

The road trip is about 194.1 miles (312.4 km) and usually takes 03h 06m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Randall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.1 miles from Detroit Lakes and 99 miles from Plymouth.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169.6 miles (273 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.45 one way or $48.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Detroit Lakes and Mostly Sunny near Plymouth.

Stop Ideas Near Randall

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Randall, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Randall.

RAIL

Staples

37 mi away
First & Fourth Aves
RAIL

St. Cloud

64 mi away
555 East St. Germain Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit Lakes and Plymouth. Straight-line distance: 169.63 mi (272.99 km).

Detroit Lakes

#1 Detroit Lakes

City in Minnesota, United States

Population9,255
Coordinates46.8171800, -95.8453300
Altitude418
CountryUnited States
Plymouth

#2 Plymouth

The second most populous city in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Population79,635
Coordinates45.0105200, -93.4555100
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Start: Washington Avenue (-95.845349, 46.817181)
End: MN 55 (-93.455609, 45.010407)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 312 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.85 gal
25.93 L · about $24.45
Round trip
$48.90
13.7 gal · 51.86 L
Estimated CO2
60.9 kg one way
Round trip: 121.8 kg / 269 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $24.45 $48.90
Mid-grade $3.92 $26.86 $53.72
Premium $4.39 $30.09 $60.17
Diesel $4.86 $33.32 $66.64

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Minnesota · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit Lakes and Plymouth. The current time is 02:33:30.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.