Traveling from New Town to Bismarck covers 148.4 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With no mandatory stops required to complete the journey, you can easily manage the trek in one go without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $22 for fuel will cover your transit costs, keeping the trip quite affordable. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout your travel. This straightforward route is best approached as a direct point-to-point connection.
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
74.2 miles from New Town, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
52.8 mi
58m
US-83 S
26.1 mi
29m
247th Avenue Southwest
25.9 mi
29m
State Highway 23
18 mi
22m
39th Street Northwest
11.7 mi
13m
US Highway 83
9.1 mi
10m
State Street
3.4 mi
5m
North 7th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 52.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Town, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on this road
327 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
191 ft·13 sec·West Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
268 ft·13 sec·Eagle Drive
4
Turn right onto Central Avenue
371 ft·21 sec·Central Avenue
5
Turn left onto ND 23; ND 1804
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
6.5 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
7
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804
167 ft·2 sec·State Highway 23
8
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
10.0 mi·11 min·State Highway 23
9
Continue on ND 23
12 mi·13 min·39th Street Northwest
10
Continue on ND 23
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 23
11
Continue on ND 23
16 mi·18 min·247th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on ND 23
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 23
13
Continue on ND 23
9.9 mi·11 min·247th Avenue Southwest
14
Turn right onto US 83
9.1 mi·10 min·US Highway 83
15
Continue on US 83
26 mi·29 min·US-83 S
16
Continue on US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
3.9 mi·4 min·US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
17
Continue on US 83; ND 1804
49 mi·54 min·US 83; ND 1804
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804
3.4 mi·5 min·State Street
19
Continue on ND 1804
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Boulevard Avenue
20
Turn straight onto ND 1804
0.6 mi·59 sec·North 7th Street
21
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Rosser Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East Rosser Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 24-minute trip does not require formal stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving New Town to ensure you stay within your $22 budget, as local road driving can sometimes affect efficiency differently than steady highway speeds. Because the path is composed entirely of local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns that aren't typical of major transit corridors. Plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure you maintain your estimated arrival time. Taking advantage of the lack of mandatory stops allows you to reach Bismarck exactly when you intend to.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.2 miles from New Town, ND, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.8 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.2 miles or 1h 27m 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 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 New Town, 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 New Town, ND
This is one driving day of about 148.3 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from New Town, 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 US 83 for about 52.8 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 0.1 and 6.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Central Avenue
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Eagle Drive
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Central Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 23; ND 1804 / Main Street
Turn left onto ND 23; ND 1804 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.9 mi into trip|~10m in|ND 23; ND 1804 / State Highway 23
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804 / State Highway 23
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.19 one way
$46.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.46
$50.91
premium
$4.89
$28.54
$57.08
diesel
$5.61
$32.74
$65.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
EV Truck/SUV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
New Town, ND
Evening
in New Town on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Garrison, ND
74 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
4 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
2h 52m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate experience, this route relies on local roads like West Central Avenue, Eagle Drive, and Central Avenue rather than high-speed highways. Because the highway share is 0 percent, you will spend the entire 148.4-mile journey navigating through local road networks. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch to zone out on, as your route is defined by the constant turns required to reach your destination. Be prepared for a more deliberate pace compared to typical highway cruising.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 83 is the longest continuous segment at about 52.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and US-83 S. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Central Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 52m 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: at 0.1 miles (West Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Eagle Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Central 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 drive from New Town, ND to Bismarck, ND covers 148.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 83, US-83 S, 247th Avenue Southwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.2 miles from New Town, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 52m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Eagle Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from New Town, ND to Bismarck, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
