Origin
Devils Lake, ND
Afternoon in Devils Lake on Thursday
Local time
2:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
124 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Devils Lake, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Trip Overview
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND covers 124 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 20, State Highway 1, State Highway 200 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.2 miles on State Highway 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62 miles from Devils Lake, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 124 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 124 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 20 and State Highway 1. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.2 miles on State Highway 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 20 and State Highway 1. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ND 20 / College Drive North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND is easy. At 2h 33m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ND 20 / College Drive North): Lane positioning matters here; at 77 miles (ND 1 / State Highway 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.4 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ND 20 / College Drive North
Depart onto ND 20 / College Drive North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
77 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
ND 1 / State Highway 1
Turn right onto ND 1 / State Highway 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
114.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
ND 1
Take the ramp onto ND 1 toward I 94 East, ND 1 South: Fargo
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 East, ND 1 South: Fargo
5
121.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
I 94 Business
Take the exit onto I 94 Business toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 290
Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
4
122 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
I 94 Business / 24th Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto I 94 Business / 24th Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 20 | 57.2 mi | 1h 13m |
| State Highway 1 | 37 mi | 43m |
| State Highway 200 | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| ND 1 | 6.5 mi | 6m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 94 | 1 mi | 1m |
| College Drive North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Byron Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 20
— 57.2 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Devils Lake, ND and Valley City, ND.
1
Start on ND 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
College Drive North
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on ND 20
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 20
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on ND 20
44 mi
·
56 min
·
State Highway 20
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on ND 20
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Byron Street
5
Continue on ND 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 20
6
Continue on ND 200
18 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 200
7
Turn right onto ND 1
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 1
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on ND 1
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wheat Street
9
Continue on ND 1
28 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 1
10
Take the ramp onto ND 1
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
ND 1
Toward I 94 East, ND 1 South: Fargo
11
Continue on I 94; US 52
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94; US 52
12
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 94 Business
Exit 290
Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
13
Turn left onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
24th Avenue Southwest
14
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
I 94 Business
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62 miles from Devils Lake, ND, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.2 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley City, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Devils Lake, 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 Devils Lake, ND
This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Devils Lake, 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.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 20 for about 57.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62 mi from Devils Lake, ND · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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
Arriving in Valley City, ND
The final approach into Valley City, 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 Valley City, 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
$19.39 one way
$38.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.29 | $42.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.86 | $47.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.38 | $54.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| Efficient EV | 31 | 0 | $10.85 | $4.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.36 | $7.94 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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
Valley City, ND
Afternoon in Valley City on Thursday
Local time
2:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 33m 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 Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND covers 124 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 20, State Highway 1, State Highway 200. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62 miles from Devils Lake, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.39 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND is easy. At 2h 33m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ND 20 / College Drive North): Lane positioning matters here; at 77 miles (ND 1 / State Highway 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.4 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Devils Lake, ND to Valley City, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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