Coulee, ND to Manitou, ND is 47.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via State Highway 8 and US 2, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Great Plains region of North Dakota, offering a straightforward drive through the landscape. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state and federal highways, making for an uncomplicated trip. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick connection between two points without extensive planning or a need for overnight stays.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 8
15.7 mi
23m
US 2
11 mi
12m
State Highway 50
10.1 mi
17m
78th Street Northwest
8 mi
14m
93rd Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi
3m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
4th Street Southwest
0.4 mi
1m
6th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 8
— 15.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coulee, ND and Manitou, ND.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·Washington Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 50
10 mi·17 min·State Highway 50
3
Continue on ND 50
8.0 mi·14 min·78th Street Northwest
4
At end of road, turn left onto ND 8
16 mi·23 min·State Highway 8
5
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
6
Turn right onto 6th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi·1 min·6th Avenue Southeast
7
Turn left onto 4th Street Southwest
0.4 mi·1 min·4th Street Southwest
8
Turn right onto US 2
11 mi·12 min·US 2
9
Turn right onto 93rd Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi·3 min·93rd Avenue Northwest
10
Arrive at destination
93rd Avenue Northwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Coulee, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 46.3 — 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|State Highway 50
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 50
Navigation decision point
5
18.3 mi into trip|~32m in|ND 8 / State Highway 8
At end of road, turn left onto ND 8 / State Highway 8
Navigation decision point
4
35 mi into trip|~58m in|4th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 4th Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
4
35.3 mi into trip|~59m in|US 2
Turn right onto US 2
Navigation decision point
4
46.3 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|93rd Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 93rd Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.03 one way
$14.06 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$7.76
$15.52
premium
$4.72
$8.84
$17.68
diesel
$4.80
$8.99
$17.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14.3
0
$5.00
$2.28
Efficient EV
11.9
0
$4.17
$1.90
EV Truck/SUV
19
0
$6.66
$3.05
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Jul 10, 2026
Origin
Coulee, ND
Evening
in Coulee on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Areas Of Fog
S 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 10 at 3:55AM CDT until July 14 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 10 at 2:02AM CDT until July 14 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
Destination
Manitou, ND
Evening
in Manitou on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Areas Of Fog
E 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 10 at 3:55AM CDT until July 14 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 10 at 2:02AM CDT until July 14 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
60°F
Stanley, ND
24 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 15m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 77% of the route utilizing major roads like State Highway 8 and US 2. You'll experience a longest stretch of 15.7 miles on State Highway 8, allowing for a consistent pace before navigating through other segments. The character of the drive is largely defined by these highways, suggesting a smooth and efficient journey rather than one with frequent winding turns or varied terrains. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the 47.6 miles.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on State Highway 8.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 8 and US 2. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near State Highway 50.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Coulee, ND to Manitou, ND is easy. At 1h 15m with 77% 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 (State Highway 50): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (ND 8 / State Highway 8): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,426 ft2,064 ft
Total Climb
587 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
2,426 ft
~20.4 mi in
Elevation Range
362 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
The longest stretch is about 15.7 miles on State Highway 8. 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 0.2 miles (State Highway 50): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (ND 8 / State Highway 8): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (4th Street Southwest): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manitou, ND before heading back.
