Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belfield, ND
Jef KoeleWijn
Richardton, ND
Ron Lach
Belfield to Richardton is 45 miles and takes about 47m via I 94 and Highway 10 East, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two points within North Dakota's Great Plains region. It's a straightforward connection, primarily utilizing the interstate, making it a simple and efficient option if you're looking to cover a small distance quickly. Most of the travel will be on highway, so expect consistent speed limits and an easy pace.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 42.1 mi | 40m |
| 88th Avenue Southwest | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Highway 10 East | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| ND 8 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Theodore Roosevelt Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rebel Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Belfield, ND and Richardton, ND.
Start on 1st Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto Main Street North
Turn right onto Highway 10 East
Turn left onto US 85
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn left onto ND 8
Continue on ND 8
Turn left onto ND 8
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Belfield, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Main Street North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 85 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward ND 8: Richardton, Mott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto ND 8 / 88th Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.37 one way
$14.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $8.20 | $16.39 |
| premium | $5.10 | $9.04 | $18.09 |
| diesel | $6.06 | $10.73 | $21.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Belfield on Monday
Local time
12:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Richardton on Monday
Local time
12:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the 45 miles on interstates and major roads. You'll have one stretch of 42.1 miles on I 94 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a dense pattern of exits on the interstate portion, indicating frequent opportunities for services or potential turn-offs. The final segment will feel more like rural cruising as you approach Richardton.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and 88th Avenue Southwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 85 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
244 ft
Total Descent
355 ft
Highest Point
2,584 ft
Elevation Range
219 ft
Founded 1883
Belfield is a city located on the eastern edge of the North Dakota Badlands.
Founded 1883
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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