Origin
Valley City, ND
Night in Valley City on Friday
Local time
9:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
131.8 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Park River, ND
JUNLIN ZOU
Trip Overview
The drive from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND covers 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94 East, ND 32, Highway 32 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.61 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.9 miles from Valley City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 131.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 38m drive with frequent turns across 131.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 East | — | — |
| ND 32 | — | — |
| Highway 32 | — | — |
| Highway 200 | — | — |
| Lincoln Avenue | — | — |
| 4th Street South | — | — |
| Highway 2 | — | — |
| Highway 17 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Park River, ND.
1
Start on West Main Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
2
Take the ramp left toward I 94 East: Fargo
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 94 East: Fargo
3
Merge slight left
8.0 mi
·
7 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward ND 32: Oriska, Fingal
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
ND 32: Oriska, Fingal
5
Turn left onto State Highway 32
37 mi
·
43 min
·
State Highway 32
6
Continue on State Highway 200
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 200
7
Continue on Lincoln Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on State Highway 32
13 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 32
9
Continue on State Highway 32
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 32
10
Continue on 4th Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street South
11
Continue on State Highway 32
22 mi
·
26 min
·
State Highway 32
12
Turn right onto United States Highway 2
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
United States Highway 2
13
Turn left onto State Highway 32
27 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 32
14
Turn right onto State Highway 17
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 17
15
Continue on Park Street West
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Street West
16
Turn left
138 ft
·
10 sec
17
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.9 miles from Valley City, ND, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park River, 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 131.8 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.9 mi from Valley City, ND · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.9 miles from Valley City, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Park River, ND
The final approach into Park River, 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 Park River, 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
$20.61 one way
$41.21 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.62 | $45.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.36 | $50.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.10 | $58.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.84 | $6.33 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.53 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.45 | $8.44 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Park River, ND
Night in Park River on Friday
Local time
9:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
25 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 38m 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 Park River, ND covers 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94 East, ND 32, Highway 32. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.9 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 $20.61 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND is easy. At 2h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Valley City, ND to Park River, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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