Connecting Bismarck to Minot is a straightforward 109.9-mile journey across the North Dakota Great Plains. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 9 minutes on the road, making this an ideal one-day excursion. Given the manageable distance, there is no need to split this into an overnight trip unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $17 for fuel should cover your transit comfortably in a standard vehicle. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience consistent prairie landscapes throughout the duration of your travel. This direct route is perfect for travelers looking to move efficiently between two of the state's major hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55 miles from Bismarck, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
56.7 mi
1h 7m
State Street
52.3 mi
1h
North 9th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
East Rosser Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Boulevard Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Burdick Expressway West
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 56.7 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bismarck, ND and Minot, ND.
1
Start on East Rosser Avenue
0.2 mi·47 sec·East Rosser Avenue
2
Turn left onto ND 1804
0.6 mi·53 sec·North 9th Street
3
Turn right onto ND 1804
227 ft·3 sec·East Boulevard Avenue
4
Continue on ND 1804
3.3 mi·5 min·State Street
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804
49 mi·54 min·State Street
6
Continue on US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
4.0 mi·4 min·US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
7
Continue on US 83; ND 1804
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 83; ND 1804
8
Turn left onto US 2 Business; US 52 Business
74 ft·2 sec·Burdick Expressway West
9
Arrive at destination
US 2 Business; US 52 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Without any mandatory stops required to complete the 109.9-mile trip, you can easily handle the transit in one continuous push. If you prefer to break up the drive, consider checking your fuel levels before leaving Bismarck to ensure you are ready for the long 56.7-mile stretch on US 83. Keep an eye on your speed as you transition from the local street segments onto the highway. Because the entire trip takes just over two hours, you can comfortably plan your arrival in Minot for a mid-morning or afternoon check-in without feeling rushed.
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 55 miles from Bismarck, ND, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.7 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minot, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bismarck, ND
This is one driving day of about 109.9 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Bismarck, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 56.7 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 109.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|ND 1804 / North 9th Street
Turn left onto ND 1804 / North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue
Turn right onto ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|US 83; ND 1804 / State Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804 / State Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
109.9 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|US 2 Business; US 52 Business / Burdick Expressway West
Turn left onto US 2 Business; US 52 Business / Burdick Expressway West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.86
$37.73
premium
$4.89
$21.15
$42.30
diesel
$5.61
$24.26
$48.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.54
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.62
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.39
$7.03
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Minot, ND
Evening
in Minot on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Garrison, ND
55 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
3 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
2h 9m 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?
Navigating this route requires a mix of local streets and highway travel, with 52% of your journey spent on the open road. You will primarily utilize US 83, which serves as the backbone of your trip and features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 56.7 miles. Departing Bismarck via State Street and North 9th Street eventually transitions into the more open highway environment of US 83. The drive offers a mixed-road profile, alternating between the pace of city exits and the steady rhythm of rural highway driving. Expect a predictable experience behind the wheel as you traverse the expansive, flat terrain characteristic of this central North Dakota corridor.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.7 mi on US 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near ND 1804 / North 9th Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Minot, ND is easy. At 2h 9m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ND 1804 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (US 83; ND 1804 / State Street): 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 56.7 miles on US 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.2 miles (ND 1804 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (US 83; ND 1804 / State Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minot, ND before heading back.
