Drive or Fly: Bismarck, ND to Watford City, ND?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BIS–XWA. At 182 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 14m

Distance

182.8 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 24m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bismarck, ND → BIS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

XWA → Watford City, ND 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Bismarck, ND BIS — Bismarck Municipal Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Watford City, ND XWA — Williston Basin International Airport 38 mi, ~58m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BIS and XWA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 14m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$125
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bismarck, ND to Watford City, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.