Origin
Kulm, ND
Evening in Kulm on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kulm, ND to Marion, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
54.8 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kulm, ND
Engin Akyurt
Marion, ND
Joanna Bogacz
Trip Overview
Kulm to Marion is 54.8 miles and takes about 1h 7m via US 281, State Highway 46, and State Highway 13, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, highway-focused drive stays within North Dakota's Great Plains region, making it a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a practical journey rather than a winding scenic tour. It's a convenient connection for those traveling through the area, easily completed within a few hours, leaving plenty of time for other activities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 281 | 19 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 46 | 18 mi | 20m |
| State Highway 13 | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| County Road 61 | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 56 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street Southeast | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 4th Main Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 281
— 19 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kulm, ND and Marion, ND.
1
Start on this road
153 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto 1st Street Southeast
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street Southeast
3
Turn right onto ND 56
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Highway 56
4
Continue on ND 13
14 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 13
5
Continue on ND 13
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue
6
Continue on ND 13
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
State Highway 13
7
Turn left onto US 281
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 281
8
Turn right onto ND 46
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 46
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto CR 61
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 61
10
Turn right onto 4th Main Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
4th Main Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
4th Main Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Kulm, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street Southeast
Turn right onto 1st Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ND 56 / State Highway 56
Turn right onto ND 56 / State Highway 56
Navigation decision point
3
15.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 281
Turn left onto US 281
Navigation decision point
6
34.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
ND 46 / State Highway 46
Turn right onto ND 46 / State Highway 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
CR 61 / County Road 61
Turn right onto CR 61 / County Road 61
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.57 one way
$17.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.55 | $21.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Marion, ND
Evening in Marion on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Adrian, ND
27 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
26 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 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey on main roads like US 281, State Highway 46, and State Highway 13. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the 54.8 miles, including a longest stretch of 19 miles on US 281 without significant deviations. The character of the drive is practical and efficient, designed for covering ground smoothly. Expect straightforward travel without many complex intersections or sharp turns, keeping your focus on the road ahead.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19 mi on US 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 281 and State Highway 46. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street Southeast.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kulm, ND to Marion, ND is easy. At 1h 7m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ND 56 / State Highway 56): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 281): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19 miles on US 281. 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: near the start (1st Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ND 56 / State Highway 56): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 281): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marion, ND before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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