Origin
Devils Lake, ND
Afternoon in Devils Lake on Saturday
Local time
3:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Devils Lake, ND to Rolla, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
78.8 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Devils Lake, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Rolla, ND
ἐμμανυελ
Trip Overview
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Rolla, ND covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 281, Highway 2 West, State Highway 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.1 miles on US 281. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Devils Lake, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 281 | 45.1 mi | 1h |
| Highway 2 West | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| State Highway 30 | 13.8 mi | 16m |
| Walker Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 66th Avenue Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street Northwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| College Drive North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 281
— 45.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Devils Lake, ND and Rolla, ND.
1
Start on ND 20
365 ft
·
14 sec
·
College Drive North
2
Turn right onto ND 19
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto US 2
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Highway 2 West
4
Turn right onto ND 281
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
66th Avenue Northeast
5
Continue on ND 281
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Street
6
Continue on US 281
25 mi
·
36 min
·
US 281
7
Turn left onto US 281; ND 66
20 mi
·
23 min
·
US 281; ND 66
8
Continue on ND 30
14 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 30
9
Arrive at destination
ND 30
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Devils Lake, ND, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 17 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rolla, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Devils Lake, ND
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Devils Lake, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 281 for about 45.1 miles.
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 44.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest
Turn right onto ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
19.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
ND 281 / 66th Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto ND 281 / 66th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
44.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 281; ND 66
Turn left onto US 281; ND 66
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.32 one way
$24.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.53 | $27.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.16 | $30.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Rolla, ND
Afternoon in Rolla on Saturday
Local time
3:46 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
24 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
1h 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
78.8 mi in 1h 39m, mostly highway — 45.1 mi of that is on US 281.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 mi on US 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 281 and Highway 2 West. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Rolla, ND is easy. At 1h 39m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (ND 281 / 66th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 44.6 miles (US 281; ND 66): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.1 miles on US 281. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ND can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (ND 281 / 66th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 44.6 miles (US 281; ND 66): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rolla, ND before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More from Devils Lake, ND
Explore more options from Devils Lake, ND or browse trips ending in Rolla, ND.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ND road trips.