Beulah, ND to Bismarck, ND is 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m via I 94 and State Highway 49, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a direct path between two North Dakota points. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your journey. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a quick, purposeful trip, allowing for a flexible schedule. It’s a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Beulah, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
45.2 mi
43m
State Highway 49
25.1 mi
37m
61st Avenue Southwest
3 mi
4m
West Rosser Avenue
1 mi
2m
Memorial Highway
0.6 mi
1m
West Main Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Main Street West
0.4 mi
<1m
Bismarck Expressway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beulah, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on Central Avenue South
55 ft·7 sec·Central Avenue South
2
Turn left onto Main Street West
0.4 mi·57 sec·Main Street West
3
At end of road, turn left onto ND 49
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 49
4
Continue on ND 49
3.0 mi·4 min·61st Avenue Southwest
5
Continue on ND 49
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 49
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
45 mi·43 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 156Toward I 94 Business: Bismarck Expressway
9
Continue on Bismarck Expressway
0.3 mi·25 sec·Bismarck Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I 94 Business East: Bismarck, Mandan
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·27 sec
Toward I 94 Business East: Main Avenue, Bismarck
12
Turn straight onto I 94 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·Memorial Highway
Toward Bismarck
13
Continue on I 94 Business
0.5 mi·41 sec·West Main Avenue
14
Turn slight left onto West Rosser Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West Rosser Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Rosser Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours and has no recommended stops, you have the flexibility to depart at any time that suits your schedule. A morning departure will get you to Bismarck well before lunchtime. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant town is on I 94. While the $12 fuel cost is an estimate, it's wise to start with a full tank from Beulah to ensure a smooth journey. Given the short distance, there's no need to split this drive; enjoy the direct path.
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 38.6 miles from Beulah, ND, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bismarck, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Beulah, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Beulah, ND
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Beulah, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 45.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 74.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 49 / State Highway 49
At end of road, turn left onto ND 49 / State Highway 49
Navigation decision point
4
28.4 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 94 Business: Bismarck Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 156
Toward I 94 Business: Bismarck Expressway
5
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 94 Business East: Bismarck, Mandan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 Business East: Bismarck, Mandan
6
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 Business East: Main Avenue, Bismarck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 Business East: Main Avenue, Bismarc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.08 one way
$24.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.27
$26.54
premium
$4.89
$14.88
$29.75
diesel
$5.61
$17.07
$34.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Beulah, ND
Evening
in Beulah on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
21°F
Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy
N 2 to 12 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
22°F
Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy
NW 3 to 12 mph27% chanceLive forecast
43°F
New Salem, ND
39 mi in
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
1 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
1h 33m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 94 and State Highway 49. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 45.2 miles on I 94, providing a consistent pace. The drive's character remains largely consistent, favoring efficient travel over varied scenery. While there are a couple of local road segments, like 61st Avenue Southwest, the overall feel is one of straightforward transit on well-maintained highways.
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 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near ND 49 / State Highway 49.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (ND 49 / State Highway 49): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 73.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Bismarck (Hidasta: mirahacii arumaaguash; Arikara: ituhtaáwe) is the capital of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. Bismarck is North Dakota's second most populous city, after Fargo.
The drive from Beulah, ND to Bismarck, ND covers 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, State Highway 49, 61st Avenue Southwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.6 miles from Beulah, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.08 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 straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (ND 49 / State Highway 49): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 73.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Beulah, ND to Bismarck, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
