Spanning 98.9 miles across the Great Plains, this direct route between Bismarck and Dickinson is a quick trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the journey. Navigating this path is straightforward, relying heavily on I-94 to move you efficiently between these two North Dakota cities. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip makes it a reliable choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.5 miles from Bismarck, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
94 mi
1h 29m
3rd Avenue West
1.2 mi
1m
Bismarck Expressway
1.1 mi
1m
East Rosser Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
West Main Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
West Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 94 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bismarck, ND and Dickinson, ND.
1
Start on East Rosser Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East Rosser Avenue
2
Continue on West Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·West Rosser Avenue
3
Turn straight onto I 94 Business
0.5 mi·45 sec·West Main Avenue
4
Continue on I 94 Business
0.5 mi·45 sec·Memorial Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto Bismarck Expressway
1.1 mi·1 min·Bismarck Expressway
7
Merge onto I 94
94 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
9
Keep slight left at fork
229 ft·13 sec
10
Turn left onto ND 22
1.2 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue West
11
Turn left
61 ft·6 sec
12
Turn right
174 ft·12 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the entire drive takes under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time to beat potential traffic. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops, as the 98.9-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because this route is almost entirely highway-based, your fuel consumption will be most efficient when maintaining a steady pace on I-94. If you are prone to fatigue, even a quick stretch in the car can be refreshing, but you can easily complete the trip without stopping if you prefer. A great tip for this route is to check your fuel levels before leaving Bismarck, as the long, uninterrupted stretch on the interstate means you will want to avoid unnecessary detours once you are up to speed.
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 49.5 miles from Bismarck, ND, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94 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 22 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.5 miles or 50m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dickinson, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bismarck, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bismarck, ND
This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Bismarck, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 94 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 2.3 and 98.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|Bismarck Expressway
Merge onto Bismarck Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
97.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
97.7 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|ND 22 / 3rd Avenue West
Turn left onto ND 22 / 3rd Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
98.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.46 one way
$30.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.98
$33.95
premium
$4.89
$19.03
$38.06
diesel
$5.61
$21.84
$43.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.7
0
$10.38
$4.75
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
EV Truck/SUV
39.6
0
$13.85
$6.33
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dickinson, ND
Evening
in Dickinson on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience as 96% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major roads. The core of this trip is a 94-mile, uninterrupted stretch along I-94, which allows for consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. You will start your journey utilizing the Bismarck Expressway and 3rd Avenue West to connect to the interstate, but once you merge, the route remains largely consistent. It is a no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and direct access, minimizing the need for complex maneuvers or technical driving. You will find that the rhythm of the road remains steady from start to finish.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and 3rd Avenue West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Bismarck Expressway.
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 38m 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 2.3 miles (Bismarck Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 97.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 longest stretch is about 94 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ND can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Bismarck Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 97.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dickinson, ND before heading back.
