Road trip cost
At 1492 miles and roughly 24 hr 6 min of driving, the route from Bismarck, ND to San Francisco, CA is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.
1492 mi
24 hr 6 min
4
6
4 suggested fuel stops
Key takeaway
Drive intensity
Consider an overnight stop.
Pre-filled with the Bismarck → San Francisco distance.
Estimated Trip Cost
$0.00
Per Person
$0.00
Gallons
0.00gal
Total miles: 1,492 (one way).
We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.
Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.
Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 1492-mile route.
$167.85
one way · ~53.3 gal
$183.84
one way · ~53.3 gal
$205.15
one way · ~53.3 gal
A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 4 stops along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.
Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 6 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.
Midpoint
Salt Lake City, UT
Roughly halfway between Bismarck and San Francisco. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.
Route personality
Cross-country haulOvernight-friendlyBismarck, ND
San Francisco, CA
Winter
Snow, ice and chain-control zones from late November through March — carry an emergency kit.
Late summer / early fall
Western wildfire smoke can drop visibility and force I-5 / I-80 detours — check InciWeb.
Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.
A one-way drive uses about $184 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.
Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.
Very high — strongly consider an overnight stop rather than pushing through in a single day.
At 24 hr 6 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.
This 1492-mile route between Bismarck, ND and San Francisco, CA is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 24 hr 6 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.
The drive is about 1492 miles and takes roughly 24 hr 6 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.
In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 53.3 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 67.8 gallons.
At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $183.84 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.
A typical gas sedan needs about 4 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 6 DC fast-charges.
Flying is often cheaper for one person at this distance. Driving makes sense for families, road-trippers, or anyone bringing gear.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Salt Lake City, UT is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.
Estimated 1492-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.
Cheapest to drive
57 MPG · hybrid
~$90
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest EV
134 MPGe · ev
~$60
est. one-way charging cost
See full breakdownBest sedan
37 MPG · sedan
~$139
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest SUV for comfort
33 MPG · suv
~$156
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest truck for cargo
26 MPG · truck
~$198
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownRelated routes
Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.
Reverse drive
San Francisco to Bismarck driving cost
1492 mi · 24.1 h
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