Origin
Bismarck, ND
Night in Bismarck on Tuesday
Local time
11:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
242.9 mi
391 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bismarck, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND covers 242.9 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 9th Street, East Boulevard Avenue, State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.97 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
121.4 miles from Bismarck, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 28m drive with frequent turns across 242.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 9th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Boulevard Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fargo | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| ND 32 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 32 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 200 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North 9th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bismarck, ND and Mekinock, ND.
1
Start on East Rosser Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Rosser Avenue
2
Turn left onto North 9th Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
North 9th Street
3
Turn right onto East Boulevard Avenue
226 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Boulevard Avenue
4
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
5
Take the ramp right toward Fargo
50 mi
·
47 min
·
Fargo
6
Continue straight
93 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward ND 32: Oriska, Fingal
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
ND 32: Oriska, Fingal
8
Turn left onto State Highway 32
37 mi
·
43 min
·
State Highway 32
9
Continue on State Highway 200
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 200
10
Continue on Lincoln Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
11
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Washington Avenue
12
Continue on State Highway 200
18 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 200
13
Turn left onto State Highway 18
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 18
14
Continue on Dakota Avenue South
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Dakota Avenue South
15
Continue on State Highway 18
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 18
16
Turn right onto State Highway 15
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 15
17
Turn left onto 25th Street Northeast
12 mi
·
16 min
·
25th Street Northeast
18
Continue on Highway B3
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway B3
19
Continue on 25th Street Northeast
5.3 mi
·
12 min
·
25th Street Northeast
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 121.4 miles from Bismarck, ND, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.4 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mekinock, 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 242.9 miles and 4h 28m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.4 mi from Bismarck, ND · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 121.4 miles from Bismarck, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mekinock, ND
The final approach into Mekinock, 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 Mekinock, 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
$37.97 one way
$75.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.69 | $83.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.74 | $93.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.63 | $107.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.9 | 0 | $25.50 | $11.66 |
| Efficient EV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.25 | $9.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.01 | $15.55 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Mekinock, ND
Night in Mekinock on Tuesday
Local time
11:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°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
1 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
4h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND covers 242.9 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 9th Street, East Boulevard Avenue, State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.4 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 $37.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bismarck, ND to Mekinock, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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