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Trip from Valley City, ND to Thompson, ND

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 4m

Distance

111 mi

179 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Valley City, ND, ND

Valley City, ND

Isabelli Pontes

Trip Overview

The drive from Valley City, ND to Thompson, ND covers 111 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, State Highway 18, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.35 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

55.5 miles from Valley City, ND

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 34 mi 32m
State Highway 18 30 mi 35m
I 29 29.2 mi 27m
State Highway 200 Alternate 8 mi 9m
West Main Street 2.2 mi 3m
153rd Avenue Southeast 2.1 mi 5m
35th Street Southeast 2 mi 2m
State Highway 15 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 34 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Thompson, ND.

1

Start on I 94 Business

2.2 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
2

Take the ramp onto I 94 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 94 Business
Toward I 94 East: Fargo
3

Merge onto I 94; US 52

34 mi · 32 min · I 94; US 52
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 328 Toward Lynchburg
5

Turn left onto 153rd Avenue Southeast

2.1 mi · 5 min · 153rd Avenue Southeast
6

At end of road, turn right onto CR 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · 35th Street Southeast
7

Continue on CR 10

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 5th Street North
8

At end of road, turn left onto ND 18

13 mi · 15 min · State Highway 18
9

Continue on ND 18

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
10

Continue on ND 18

5.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 18
11

Continue on ND 18

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Main Street
12

Continue on ND 18

11 mi · 12 min · State Highway 18
13

Turn right onto ND 200 Alternate

8.0 mi · 9 min · State Highway 200 Alternate
14

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks
15

Merge onto I 29; US 81

29 mi · 27 min · I 29; US 81
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 130 Toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson
17

Turn left onto ND 15

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 15
18

Continue on ND 15

0.5 mi · 1 min · Broadway Street
19

Arrive at destination

ND 15

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 55.5 miles from Valley City, ND, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.5 miles or 1h 2m 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thompson, 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 111 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Valley City, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 34 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Gardner, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gardner, ND

56 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

Lisbon, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gardner, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from Valley City, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Viking Grounds

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Valley City, North Dakota

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm

+17018457137

Top Coffee Stop

Alley Beans | Coffee & Roastery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Valley City, North Dakota

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17014903752

Visit website

Wild Prairie Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Valley City, North Dakota

0 mi

The Vault

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Valley City, North Dakota

0.1 mi

Viking Grounds

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Valley City, North Dakota

Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm

+17018457137

The Hillsboro Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 79.3

Hillsboro, North Dakota

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+17016362073

Visit website

Alley Beans | Coffee & Roastery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10

Valley City, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17014903752

Visit website

Wild Prairie Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $1 to $10

Valley City, North Dakota

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+17014903393

The Vault

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Valley City, North Dakota

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+17018406264

Visit website

Epworth's Holy Grounds

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Valley City, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17018408713

Visit website

Cenex

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 15.9

Tower City, North Dakota

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+17017496000

Visit website

Percy's Place

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 39.6

Casselton, North Dakota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17013474427

Visit website

Cenex

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 79.3

Hillsboro, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17014365126

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 109.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 94 Business

Take the ramp onto I 94 Business toward I 94 East: Fargo

Navigation decision point

Toward I 94 East: Fargo
5
36.4 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward Lynchburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 328 Toward Lynchburg
5
40.8 mi into trip | ~44m in | ND 18 / State Highway 18

At end of road, turn left onto ND 18 / State Highway 18

Navigation decision point

6
79.8 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the ramp toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks
6
109.2 mi into trip | ~2h in

Take the exit toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson

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

Exit 130 Toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.35 one way

$34.71 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.05 $38.11
premium $4.89 $21.36 $42.72
diesel $5.61 $24.51 $49.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.3 0 $11.65 $5.33
Efficient EV 27.8 0 $9.71 $4.44
EV Truck/SUV 44.4 0 $15.54 $7.10

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Valley City, ND

Afternoon in Valley City on Saturday

Local time

1:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Thompson, ND

Afternoon in Thompson on Saturday

Local time

1:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

66°F

Gardner, ND

56 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

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

2h 4m 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?

111 mi in 2h 4m, mostly highway — 34 mi of that is on I 94.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near I 94 Business.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 36.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.8 miles (ND 18 / State Highway 18): 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 Valley City, ND to Thompson, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Lynchburg along the way.

Lynchburg

36.4 mi in | ~35m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 111 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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 2.2 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 36.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40.8 miles (ND 18 / State Highway 18): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Thompson, ND before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.

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