Spanning 319.5 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this drive typically takes about 5 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because the route is straightforward and manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach Beulah from Wahpeton without needing an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates like I-29 and I-94 before transitioning to State Highway 49 for the final leg. Budgeting approximately $49 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
159.8 miles from Wahpeton, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
238.9 mi
3h 50m
I 29
40.4 mi
39m
State Highway 49
24.9 mi
37m
State Highway 13
10.4 mi
12m
61st Avenue Southwest
3 mi
4m
Dakota Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street West
0.4 mi
<1m
4th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 238.9 mi, about 3h 50m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~525 veh/hr typical
· worst 743
Quietest
3 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wahpeton, ND and Beulah, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue North
109 ft·6 sec·2nd Avenue North
2
Turn right onto 4th Street North
392 ft·14 sec·4th Street North
3
Turn right onto ND 13
0.6 mi·1 min·Dakota Avenue
4
Continue on ND 13
10 mi·12 min·State Highway 13
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: FargoUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 29; US 81
40 mi·39 min·I 29; US 81
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
8
Merge onto I 94; US 52
182 mi·2 hr 53 min·I 94; US 52
9
Continue on I 94; US 83
57 mi·56 min·I 94; US 83
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
11
Turn right onto ND 49
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 49
12
Continue on ND 49
3.0 mi·4 min·61st Avenue Southwest
13
Continue on ND 49
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 49
14
Turn right onto Main Street West
0.4 mi·54 sec·Main Street West
15
Turn right onto Central Avenue South
55 ft·2 sec·Central Avenue South
16
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue South
Trip Plan
Planning your departure for early in the day is the best way to maintain a steady pace throughout the 5-hour and 28-minute drive. While the route is efficient, you should factor in at least one scheduled stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $49 budget in mind. Given that the longest stretch is nearly 240 miles on I-94, try to time your breaks to coincide with your fuel needs to avoid unnecessary detours. Since you are sticking to major interstates for nearly the entire distance, stay alert for changing speed limits as you exit the highway system and transition onto State Highway 49 for the final approach into Beulah. Flexibility is on your side, so monitor traffic conditions on I-94 before you head out.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.8 miles from Wahpeton, ND, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.9 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 70 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.8 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beulah, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton, ND
This is one driving day of about 319.5 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Wahpeton, 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 I 94 for about 238.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 319.2 — 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|4th Street North
Turn right onto 4th Street North
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|ND 13 / Dakota Avenue
Turn right onto ND 13 / Dakota Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
11 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Fargo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Fargo
5
51.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
4
319.2 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|Main Street West
Turn right onto Main Street West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.12 one way
$106.24 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$57.86
$115.72
premium
$5.18
$65.20
$130.39
diesel
$5.35
$67.30
$134.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.9
1
$33.55
$15.34
Efficient EV
79.9
0
$27.96
$12.78
EV Truck/SUV
127.8
1
$44.73
$20.45
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Wahpeton, ND
Afternoon
in Wahpeton on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph81% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Beulah, ND
Afternoon
in Beulah on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
61°F
Medina, ND
160 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
11 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
5h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 98% of your travel occurring on high-speed routes. You will settle into a long, steady rhythm for the majority of the journey, highlighted by a significant 238.9-mile stretch along I-94. While the interstate portion allows for efficient progress, the final transition onto State Highway 49 provides a change of pace as you move toward your destination. Expect a reliable, predictable driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. By keeping to these major thoroughfares, you ensure a consistent pace behind the wheel from start to finish.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 238.9 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Street North.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 28m drive. You will face about 10 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 (4th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ND 13 / Dakota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Wahpeton is a town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. It has a population of about 8,000 people (2020). It is the home of North Dakota State College of Science.
Beulah is a town of 3,000 people (2021) in Western North Dakota. It lies on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line. Beulah's elevation is 1,780 feet.
Top landmarks
•Beulah School — historic school building in North Dakota, United States
•Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Wrought-Iron Cross Site — historic cemetery in Mercer County, North Dakota, US
The longest stretch is about 238.9 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 (4th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ND 13 / Dakota Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Beulah, ND before the return drive.
