Bismarck, ND to Beulah, ND is 77 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via I 94 and State Highway 49, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a classic North Dakota highway experience. You'll primarily be on interstate and state highways, making for an efficient journey. Given the short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Bismarck, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 39m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing interstate and state highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 45.1 miles on I 94, which should feel like a steady pace. The majority of the drive will likely feel consistent as you navigate these main thoroughfares. While the profile suggests a highway focus, keep an eye out for the transition onto State Highway 49 and 61st Avenue Southwest as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 49. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Bismarck Expressway.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Beulah, ND is easy. At 1h 32m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Bismarck Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|Bismarck Expressway
Merge onto Bismarck Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
48.5 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
48.8 mi into trip|~50m in|ND 49 / State Highway 49
Turn right onto ND 49 / State Highway 49
Navigation decision point
4
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|Main Street West
Turn right onto Main Street West
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
45.1 mi
43m
State Highway 49
24.9 mi
37m
61st Avenue Southwest
3 mi
4m
Bismarck Expressway
1.1 mi
1m
East Rosser Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
West Main Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Main Street West
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 45.1 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bismarck, ND and Beulah, ND.
1
Start on East Rosser Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East Rosser Avenue
2
Continue on West Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·West Rosser Avenue
3
Turn straight onto I 94 Business
0.5 mi·45 sec·West Main Avenue
4
Continue on I 94 Business
0.5 mi·45 sec·Memorial Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto Bismarck Expressway
1.1 mi·1 min·Bismarck Expressway
7
Merge onto I 94
45 mi·43 min·I 94
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
9
Turn right onto ND 49
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 49
10
Continue on ND 49
3.0 mi·4 min·61st Avenue Southwest
11
Continue on ND 49
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 49
12
Turn right onto Main Street West
0.4 mi·54 sec·Main Street West
13
Turn right onto Central Avenue South
55 ft·2 sec·Central Avenue South
14
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue South
Trip Plan
For this short 77-mile trip, there's no need for an early start; you can depart anytime and still arrive well before dark. With a total drive time of just over 1.5 hours, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but a quick break at a rest area on I 94 is always an option if needed. Fuel costs are estimated at $12, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before leaving Bismarck, as significant services might be spaced out once you're on the state highways. The flexibility of a short drive like this means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning activities.
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 38.5 miles from Bismarck, ND, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 17 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 39m 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 14m
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 Bismarck, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bismarck, ND
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bismarck, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 45.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.5 mi from Bismarck, ND
· 39m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.22
$26.43
premium
$4.89
$14.82
$29.64
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
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: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Bismarck, ND
Morning
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beulah, ND
Morning
in Beulah on Saturday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
New Salem, ND
39 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
2 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 32m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Beulah, ND covers 77 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, State Highway 49, 61st 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 38.5 miles from Bismarck, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.04 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.
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Beulah, ND is easy. At 1h 32m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Bismarck Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 48.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Bismarck, ND to Beulah, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
