Origin
Valley City, ND
Afternoon in Valley City on Monday
Local time
3:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley City, ND to Watford City, ND
Drive Time
5h 20m
Distance
316.1 mi
509 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 7m
★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 46m
8 PM
5h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Watford City, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Valley City, ND to Watford City, ND covers 316.1 miles and takes about 5h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, Main Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 247.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
158 miles from Valley City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 20m highway drive covering 316.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 247.6 miles on I 94.
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 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 247.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 94 Business.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 94; US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 249.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94 Business
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business toward I 94 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 94 West
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 94; US 52
Merge onto I 94; US 52
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
249.8 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
250.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
|
US 85 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Turn right onto US 85 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Navigation decision point
6
313.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
|
US 85 Business; ND 23 Business / Main Street South
Turn left onto US 85 Business; ND 23 Business / Main Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 247.6 mi | 3h 57m |
| Theodore Roosevelt Expressway | 63.1 mi | 1h 13m |
| Main Street South | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| United States Highway 85 Business | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 94 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 247.6 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Watford City, 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
122 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 94; US 52
4
Continue on I 94; US 83
125 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
I 94; US 83
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
6
Turn right onto US 85
63 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
7
Turn right onto US 85 Business; ND 23
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
United States Highway 85 Business
8
Turn left onto US 85 Business; ND 23 Business
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street South
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on ND 23 Business
56 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street North
10
Arrive at destination
ND 23 Business
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158 miles from Valley City, ND, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 247.6 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watford City, 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 316.1 miles and 5h 20m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 247.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158 mi from Valley City, ND · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 158 miles from Valley City, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 247.6 miles.
Arriving in Watford City, ND
The final approach into Watford 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 Watford City, ND.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.01 one way
$96.02 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $52.93 | $105.86 |
| premium | $4.80 | $59.67 | $119.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $70.23 | $140.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.8 | 1 | $33.19 | $15.17 |
| Efficient EV | 79 | 0 | $27.66 | $12.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.25 | $20.23 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Watford City, ND
Afternoon in Watford City on Monday
Local time
3:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
37°F
Washburn, ND
158 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
4 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
5h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Watford City, ND covers 316.1 miles and takes about 5h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, Main Street South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158 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 $48.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 94; US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 249.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Valley City, ND to Watford City, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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