Origin
Valley City, ND
Afternoon in Valley City on Monday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
121.1 mi
195 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 20m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Fort Totten, ND
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Traveling from Valley City to Fort Totten spans 121.1 miles through the heart of the North Dakota Great Plains. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes of drive time, making this a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $18 on fuel for the journey, which utilizes a combination of I-94, Highway 281 Northeast, and 5th Street Northwest. Because the entire route remains within the Great Plains, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the trek. This is a practical, no-nonsense commute that allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. If you prefer a relaxed pace, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without feeling rushed.
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
60.5 miles from Valley City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
This mixed-profile route offers a blend of fast-paced interstate travel and quieter highway driving. With a 60% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of your time maintaining consistent speeds before transitioning onto secondary roads. You will encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving while navigating 41.6 miles on 5th Street Northwest. The road surface and traffic patterns shift as you move away from the main interstate corridors, requiring you to stay alert to changing road conditions. It is a steady, rhythmic drive that rewards travelers who enjoy the open, expansive feel of the rural plains.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Street Northwest is the longest continuous segment at about 41.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND is easy. At 2h 29m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 120.9 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
32.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jamestown
4
35.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Turn left onto US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Turn right onto BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Navigation decision point
5
121 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
2nd Avenue North
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
Jamestown
32.5 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street Northwest | 41.6 mi | 48m |
| Highway 281 Northeast | 36.5 mi | 50m |
| I 94 | 30.2 mi | 28m |
| State Highway 57 | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| West Main Street | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| 4th Avenue South | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7 | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
5th Street Northwest
— 41.6 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Fort Totten, ND.
1
Start on I 94 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
2
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 94 Business
Toward I 94 West
3
Merge onto I 94; US 52
30 mi
·
28 min
·
I 94; US 52
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Jamestown
5
Turn left onto Business Loop East
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Business Loop East
6
Continue on 12th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
12th Avenue
7
Continue on 12th Avenue
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
12th Avenue
8
Continue on 10th Street Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street Southeast
9
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
10
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
42 mi
·
48 min
·
5th Street Northwest
11
Continue on US 52; US 281
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
4th Avenue South
12
Enter roundabout onto US 281
182 ft
·
6 sec
·
Highway 281 Northeast
13
Continue on US 281
36 mi
·
50 min
·
Highway 281 Northeast
14
Turn right onto ND 57
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 57
15
Turn right onto BIA 7
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
16
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7
524 ft
·
16 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
17
Turn right onto BIA 6
492 ft
·
19 sec
·
Ephriam Hill Road
18
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
147 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue North
Trip Plan
Since this 121.1-mile trip is relatively short, you have the advantage of departing whenever it suits your itinerary. Plan to fill your tank before leaving Valley City, as the $18 fuel budget is a reliable baseline for the 2-hour and 29-minute duration. Because there are no formal planned stops included in the data, you should carry extra water and snacks to maintain your energy levels during the drive. Keep a close eye on your mileage, particularly when tackling the 41.6-mile stretch on 5th Street Northwest, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your time. Staying flexible with your departure time will help you avoid any potential heavy traffic periods on the highway portions of your journey.
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 60.5 miles from Valley City, ND, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 6m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Totten, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Valley City, 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 Valley City, ND
This is one driving day of about 121.1 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Valley City, 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 5th Street Northwest for about 41.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.5 mi from Valley City, ND · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Valley City, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Totten, ND
The final approach into Fort Totten, 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 Fort Totten, 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
$18.39 one way
$36.79 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.28 | $40.55 |
| premium | $4.80 | $22.86 | $45.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.90 | $53.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.72 | $5.81 |
| Efficient EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.95 | $7.75 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Fort Totten, ND
Afternoon in Fort Totten on Monday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Jamestown, ND
61 mi in
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
6 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 29m 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 Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND covers 121.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Street Northwest, Highway 281 Northeast, I 94. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.5 miles from Valley City, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 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.
The drive from Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND is easy. At 2h 29m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 120.9 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Valley City, ND to Fort Totten, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
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