Horace to Bismarck is 195 miles and takes about 3 hours 13 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Dakota, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You'll find it a practical option if you're looking for efficient travel between these two points without extensive sightseeing detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
97.7 miles from Horace, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
186.4 mi
2h 57m
Sheyenne Street South
3.2 mi
5m
CR 17
2 mi
3m
State Street
1.1 mi
1m
Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
North 7th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
US 83
0.3 mi
<1m
East Boulevard Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 186.4 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Horace, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on Center Avenue
40 ft·4 sec·Center Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 17
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
138 ft·2 sec·CR 17; CR 6
4
Continue on CR 17; CR 6
1.0 mi·1 min·CR 17; CR 6
5
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
122 ft·2 sec·CR 17; CR 6
6
Continue on CR 17; CR 6
1.0 mi·1 min·CR 17; CR 6
7
Enter roundabout onto Sheyenne Street South
122 ft·2 sec·Sheyenne Street South
8
Continue on Sheyenne Street South
3.1 mi·5 min·Sheyenne Street South
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-94 West
10
Merge onto I 94; US 52
178 mi·2 hr 48 min·I 94; US 52
11
Continue on I 94; US 83
8.2 mi·8 min·I 94; US 83
12
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 83
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
13
Turn left onto US 83; ND 1804
1.1 mi·1 min·State Street
14
Continue on ND 1804
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Boulevard Avenue
15
Turn straight onto ND 1804
0.6 mi·59 sec·North 7th Street
16
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Rosser Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Rosser Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving in the morning from Horace will easily get you to Bismarck before dark. With only one recommended stop and a highway-focused profile, you have flexibility in pacing. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so ensure your tank is full before departing Horace to maximize your savings. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Bismarck, as stretches between services can be longer on I 94 in this region.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.7 miles from Horace, ND, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 43 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.7 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
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 Horace, 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 Horace, ND
This is one driving day of about 195.4 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Horace, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 186.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 193.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 17 / Main Street
Turn right onto CR 17 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 17; CR 6
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in|CR 17; CR 6
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|Sheyenne Street South
Enter roundabout onto Sheyenne Street South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
193.1 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.55 one way
$61.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.54
$67.08
premium
$4.89
$37.60
$75.21
diesel
$5.61
$43.14
$86.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Efficient EV
48.9
0
$17.10
$7.82
EV Truck/SUV
78.2
0
$27.36
$12.51
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Horace, ND
Evening
in Horace on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Jamestown, ND
98 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
27 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
3h 13m 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?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the 195 miles on I 94. You'll experience 186.4 miles on the interstate before transitioning to surface roads near the end. Expect continuous highway cruising for the vast majority of your trip, with relatively few interruptions until you approach your destination. Sheyenne Street South and CR 17 make up the brief non-highway portion.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Sheyenne Street South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 17 / Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Horace, ND to Bismarck, ND is easy. At 3h 13m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 17 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 17; CR 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (CR 17; CR 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 186.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (CR 17 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 17; CR 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (CR 17; CR 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Bismarck, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
