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Trip from Gardner, ND to West Fargo, ND

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

28m

Distance

24.1 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown West Fargo, ND, ND

West Fargo, ND

cole peters

Trip Overview

The drive from Gardner, ND to West Fargo, ND covers 24.1 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 29, Main Avenue, Front Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.1 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.77 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

12.1 miles from Gardner, ND

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 28m highway drive covering 24.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and Main Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.1 miles on I 29.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and Main Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 21 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast

At end of road, turn left onto CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast

Navigation decision point

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 29 South

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 29 South
5
21 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo
5
21.3 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
24.1 mi into trip | ~28m in | 2nd Avenue West

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Gardner, ND to West Fargo, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Fargo along the way.

Fargo

21 mi in | ~22m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 20.1 mi 19m
Main Avenue 2.6 mi 4m
Front Street 0.3 mi 1m
18th Street Southeast 0.3 mi <1m
1st Street 0.1 mi <1m
2nd Avenue West <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 20.1 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gardner, ND and West Fargo, ND.

1

Start on Front Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Front Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto CR 26

0.3 mi · 46 sec · 18th Street Southeast
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 29 South
4

Merge onto I 29; US 81

20 mi · 19 min · I 29; US 81
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo
6

Keep slight right at fork

222 ft · 5 sec
7

Turn straight onto I 94 Business; US 10

2.6 mi · 4 min · Main Avenue
8

Turn left onto 1st Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · 1st Street
9

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West

126 ft · 5 sec · 2nd Avenue West
10

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue West

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 12.1 miles from Gardner, ND, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 24.1 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 12.1 miles or 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Fargo, ND than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Gardner, 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 Gardner, ND

This is one driving day of about 24.1 miles and 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gardner, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 20.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.1 mi from Gardner, ND · 13m into the drive

Downtown Horace, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Horace, ND

12 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

Horace, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Horace, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from Gardner, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in West Fargo, ND

The final approach into West Fargo, 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 West Fargo, 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

$3.77 one way

$7.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.14 $8.27
premium $4.89 $4.64 $9.28
diesel $5.61 $5.32 $10.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.2 0 $2.53 $1.16
Efficient EV 6 0 $2.11 $0.96
EV Truck/SUV 9.6 0 $3.37 $1.54

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Gardner, ND

Evening in Gardner on Tuesday

Local time

6:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Fargo, ND

Evening in West Fargo on Tuesday

Local time

6:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

2 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

28m 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 Gardner, ND to West Fargo, ND covers 24.1 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, Main Avenue, Front Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 miles from Gardner, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.77 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.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 21 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Gardner, ND to West Fargo, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Fargo along the way.

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