This straightforward 79.8-mile journey from Minot to Bottineau, North Dakota, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. The route primarily follows US 83, with a 95% highway share, making for a direct and efficient drive. You can expect the fuel cost to be around $12, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. Traversing the Great Plains region, this drive offers a consistent landscape throughout its relatively short length. With no designated stops recommended, this trip is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated transfer between two North Dakota destinations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.9 miles from Minot, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
42.6 mi
50m
US-83 N
33.2 mi
39m
South Broadway
3.5 mi
7m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Burdick Expressway West
<0.1 mi
<1m
5th Street East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 42.6 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minot, ND and Bottineau, ND.
1
Start on US 2 Business; US 52 Business
74 ft·8 sec·Burdick Expressway West
2
Turn left onto US 83
3.5 mi·7 min·South Broadway
3
Continue on US 83
33 mi·39 min·US-83 N
4
Turn right onto US 83; ND 5
43 mi·50 min·US 83; ND 5
5
Turn left onto CR 49
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto 5th Street East
53 ft·2 sec·5th Street East
7
Arrive at destination
5th Street East
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 38-minute duration, this drive offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, whether that's early morning to maximize your day in Bottineau or later in the day after a leisurely morning in Minot. With a fuel cost of only $12, you won't need to worry much about frequent refueling stops. The longest stretch without a town is 42.6 miles, so plan accordingly if you need a break before reaching your destination. As you head north on US 83, keep an eye on the open plains for changing weather conditions, a common consideration in this region.
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 39.9 miles from Minot, ND, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.9 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bottineau, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minot, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Minot, ND
This is one driving day of about 79.8 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Minot, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 42.6 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 83 / South Broadway
Turn left onto US 83 / South Broadway
Navigation decision point
4
36.7 mi into trip|~47m in|US 83; ND 5
Turn right onto US 83; ND 5
Navigation decision point
6
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|CR 49 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 49 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|5th Street East
Turn right onto 5th Street East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.48 one way
$24.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.70
$27.40
premium
$4.89
$15.36
$30.71
diesel
$5.61
$17.62
$35.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.9
0
$8.38
$3.83
Efficient EV
20
0
$6.98
$3.19
EV Truck/SUV
31.9
0
$11.17
$5.11
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Minot, ND
Evening
in Minot on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bottineau, ND
Evening
in Bottineau on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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 38m 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?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend most of your time on US 83, which accounts for 95% of the route. Expect a consistent pace for much of the journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 42.6 miles on US 83. The road maintains a high highway share throughout, meaning fewer slowdowns and more consistent travel speeds. This profile suggests a drive that is straightforward and efficient, without significant changes in road type or complexity as you progress from Minot to Bottineau.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.6 mi on US 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and US-83 N. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 83 / South Broadway.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Minot, ND to Bottineau, ND is easy. At 1h 38m 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 (US 83 / South Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles (US 83; ND 5): Navigation decision point; at 79.4 miles (CR 49 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,644 ft1,480 ft
Total Climb
190 ft
Total Descent
168 ft
Highest Point
1,644 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
165 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 79.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 42.6 miles on US 83. 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 (US 83 / South Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles (US 83; ND 5): Navigation decision point; at 79.4 miles (CR 49 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bottineau, ND before heading back.
