Drive or Fly: Valley City, 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 JMS–XWA. At 316 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 20m

Distance

316.1 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

128 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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

4h 17m

31m in the air

Air Distance

254 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Valley City, ND → JMS 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

XWA → Watford City, ND 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Valley City, ND JMS — Jamestown Regional Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JMS 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

10h 34m

7h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$66

CO2

19 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Valley City, ND → Fargo Amtrak Station 86m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 466m

Arrival 10m

Williston Amtrak Station → Watford City, ND 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $66) $66

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Fargo Amtrak Station 58 mi, ~86m drive

To Williston Amtrak Station 28 mi, ~42m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 20m	4h 17m	10h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$185	$66
Carbon footprint	128 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	19 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

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

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 Valley City, ND to Watford City, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.