Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.2 mi
70 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medina, ND
Abderrahmane Habibi
Ypsilanti, ND
Efrem Efre
Medina to Ypsilanti is 43.2 miles and takes about 56 minutes via I 94, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the expansive Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey primarily on major highways. Given its brevity, it's a perfect option for a quick transfer or an add-on to another trip. You'll primarily be on interstate, so expect a consistent pace for the entire 43.2 miles. Plan on a minimal fuel cost of about $7 for this trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 27.3 mi | 25m |
| 43rd Street Southeast | 6.9 mi | 16m |
| US 281 Truck Bypass | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| 55th Avenue Southeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 90th Avenue Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 52 Truck | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~323 veh/hr typical · worst 525
Quietest
2 AM
~26 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 92 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Medina, ND and Ypsilanti, ND.
Start on CR 39
Turn left onto CR 68
Continue on 55th Avenue Southeast
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit onto US 52 Truck; US 281 Truck
Turn straight onto US 281 Truck Bypass
Turn left onto 43rd Street Southeast
Continue on this road
Continue on 90th Avenue Southeast
Continue on Jefferson Avenue North
Turn left onto 2nd Street South
Turn right onto Lloyd Avenue South
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Medina, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto CR 68 / 1st Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 52 Truck; US 281 Truck toward US 52 West, US 281: Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto 2nd Street South
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Lloyd Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $7.86 | $15.73 |
| premium | $5.25 | $8.93 | $17.87 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $10.67 | $21.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Medina on Saturday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Ypsilanti on Saturday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
32°F
Jamestown, ND
22 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 94. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for the longest stretch, which spans 27.3 miles on I 94 without needing to exit. Expect a consistent speed and minimal navigation challenges for most of the 56-minute trip. The character is largely that of a quick highway transit, connecting two points in the Great Plains with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and 43rd Street Southeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 68 / 1st Avenue South.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 56m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 68 / 1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles (US 52 Truck; US 281 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
133 ft
Total Descent
544 ft
Highest Point
1,917 ft
~3.1 mi in
Elevation Range
524 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medina, ND and Ypsilanti, ND, road signs point toward Edgeley and Ellendale.
Edgeley
Ellendale
Founded 1899
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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