Connecting Jamestown to Bismarck, this 101.9-mile journey across the North Dakota Great Plains is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route works perfectly as a quick day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the heart of the region, you will utilize local roads including State Street and US 83 North to reach your destination. It is a practical, efficient path for travelers looking to move between these two hubs without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.2 miles from Jamestown, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
93.6 mi
1h 28m
State Street
1.1 mi
1m
US 52
1.1 mi
1m
1st Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
North 7th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
US 83
0.3 mi
<1m
East Boulevard Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 93.6 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jamestown, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on US 52; US 281
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
2
Turn straight onto US 52; US 281
1.1 mi·1 min·US 52; US 281
3
Take the ramp
4.7 mi·4 min
Toward Bismarck
4
Continue on I 94
94 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 94
5
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 83
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
6
Turn left onto US 83; ND 1804
1.1 mi·1 min·State Street
7
Continue on ND 1804
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Boulevard Avenue
8
Turn straight onto ND 1804
0.6 mi·59 sec·North 7th Street
9
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Rosser Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
East Rosser Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 29-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Because there are no scheduled stops in the data, it is wise to carry your own snacks and water to ensure you are comfortable throughout the 101.9-mile trip. Since this is a turn-heavy route, double-check your GPS navigation before leaving Jamestown to ensure you are comfortable with the local road transitions. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $15 estimate in mind, and plan to fill up before you head out to avoid mid-trip errands. Taking this short drive in one go is very manageable, allowing you to reach Bismarck refreshed and ready for your next activity.
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 51.2 miles from Jamestown, ND, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.6 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 23 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 miles or 49m 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 Bismarck, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jamestown, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jamestown, ND
This is one driving day of about 102.4 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Jamestown, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 93.6 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward Bismarck
Navigation decision point
Toward Bismarck
5
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
4
102.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|East Rosser Avenue
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.01 one way
$32.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.58
$35.15
premium
$4.89
$19.71
$39.41
diesel
$5.61
$22.61
$45.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.75
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.96
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.34
$6.55
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 14, 2026
Origin
Jamestown, ND
Evening
in Jamestown on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
W 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
65°F
Medina, ND
51 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
2 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 40m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will stay off the major freeways and navigate roads that require your full attention. The route lacks any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you will experience frequent transitions as you move toward Bismarck. Be prepared for a more hands-on driving experience that reflects the local character of the North Dakota landscape. This isn't a high-speed sprint, so pace yourself to match the rhythm of the local roadways.
93% 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: 93.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jamestown, ND to Bismarck, ND is easy. At 1h 40m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 100.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.3 miles (East Rosser Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 93.6 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 100.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.3 miles (East Rosser Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bismarck, ND before heading back.
