Origin
Bismarck, ND
Afternoon in Bismarck on Monday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bismarck, ND to Jamestown, ND
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
102 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bismarck, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Jamestown, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Bismarck to Jamestown, this 102.4-mile journey across the Great Plains takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging arrangements. You can expect to spend about $15 on fuel for the one-way trek. Navigating through the local landscape via North 9th Street, East Boulevard Avenue, and State Street, the drive offers a straightforward connection between these two North Dakota hubs. It’s an efficient route that keeps you within the same region, making it an easy addition to a broader plains itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
51 miles from Bismarck, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through local streets, requiring your full attention as you transition between North 9th Street, East Boulevard Avenue, and State Street. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway—with the longest segment being 0 miles on North 9th Street—the experience is more about navigating local infrastructure than cruise-control driving. The pace remains steady and technical, demanding a bit more engagement from the driver than a standard rural highway commute would.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 49.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and I 94. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near ND 1804 / North 9th Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Jamestown, ND is easy. At 1h 40m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ND 1804 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 83): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ND 1804 / North 9th Street
Turn left onto ND 1804 / North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue
Turn right onto ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 83
Take the ramp onto US 83 toward Fargo
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Fargo
4
99.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jamestown
4
101.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 52; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto US 52; US 281
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 83 | 49.7 mi | 47m |
| I 94 | 47.8 mi | 44m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 17th Street Southwest | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Business Loop | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 9th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Rosser Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 49.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bismarck, ND and Jamestown, ND.
1
Start on East Rosser Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Rosser Avenue
2
Turn left onto ND 1804
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
North 9th Street
3
Turn right onto ND 1804
227 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Boulevard Avenue
4
Continue on ND 1804
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
5
Take the ramp onto US 83
50 mi
·
47 min
·
US 83
Toward Fargo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 94
48 mi
·
44 min
·
I 94
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Jamestown
8
Continue on 17th Street Southwest
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
17th Street Southwest
9
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Business Loop
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 52; US 281
63 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 52; US 281
11
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
12
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 281
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is only 90 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no mandatory stops built into the itinerary, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to build in extensive rest breaks. Keep your $15 fuel budget in mind when you head out, and ensure your tank is ready for the local, turn-heavy nature of the roads ahead. Because you are navigating urban thoroughfares like State Street and East Boulevard Avenue, stay alert for local traffic patterns that might fluctuate throughout the day. Taking this route during off-peak hours can help you maintain a smoother pace as you transition between these two Great Plains cities.
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 51 miles from Bismarck, ND, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamestown, 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.
+
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 Bismarck, ND
This is one driving day of about 102 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bismarck, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 49.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51 mi from Bismarck, ND · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51 miles from Bismarck, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jamestown, ND
The final approach into Jamestown, ND usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Jamestown, ND.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.49 one way
$30.99 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.08 | $34.16 |
| premium | $4.80 | $19.26 | $38.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.66 | $45.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.71 | $4.90 |
| Efficient EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.92 | $4.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.28 | $6.53 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Jamestown, ND
Afternoon in Jamestown on Monday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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 Jamestown, ND covers 102 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 83, I 94, State Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51 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 $15.49 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 Jamestown, ND is easy. At 1h 40m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ND 1804 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 1804 / East Boulevard Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 83): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bismarck, ND to Jamestown, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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