Origin
West Fargo, ND
Afternoon in West Fargo on Monday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Fargo, ND to Fort Totten, ND
Drive Time
3h 21m
Distance
174.6 mi
281 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 10m
★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 30m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 31m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Fargo, ND
cole peters
Fort Totten, ND
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from West Fargo to Fort Totten, expect a straightforward 174.6-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $27 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating through the Great Plains, you will primarily use I-94, 5th Street Northwest, and Highway 281 Northeast. It is a practical, efficient drive that serves as a solid bridge between these two North Dakota locations.
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
87.3 miles from West Fargo, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 72% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start with a significant 83.4-mile stretch along I-94, which allows for steady, uninterrupted progress. As you transition off the interstate and onto Highway 281, the road personality shifts from a fast-paced arterial route to a more localized highway experience. The drive maintains a consistent pace, balancing high-speed interstate travel with the standard flow of regional North Dakota highways. Expect a predictable, steady ride as you traverse the expansive landscapes of the Great Plains.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 83.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and 5th Street Northwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174.4 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 94 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
174.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
|
BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
174.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
|
BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Turn right onto BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Navigation decision point
5
174.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
|
2nd Avenue North
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from West Fargo, ND to Fort Totten, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
Jamestown
86.1 mi in
|
~1h 24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 83.4 mi | 1h 19m |
| 5th Street Northwest | 41.6 mi | 48m |
| Highway 281 Northeast | 36.5 mi | 50m |
| State Highway 57 | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Main Avenue West | 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:
I 94
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Fargo, ND and Fort Totten, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue West
126 ft
·
11 sec
·
2nd Avenue West
2
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
1st Street
3
Turn left onto I 94 Business; US 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Avenue West
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 Business
5
Merge onto I 94; US 52
83 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 94; US 52
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Jamestown
7
Turn left onto Business Loop East
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Business Loop East
8
Continue on 12th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
12th Avenue
9
Continue on 12th Avenue
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
12th Avenue
10
Continue on 10th Street Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street Southeast
11
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
12
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
42 mi
·
48 min
·
5th Street Northwest
13
Continue on US 52; US 281
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
4th Avenue South
14
Enter roundabout onto US 281
182 ft
·
6 sec
·
Highway 281 Northeast
15
Continue on US 281
36 mi
·
50 min
·
Highway 281 Northeast
16
Turn right onto ND 57
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 57
17
Turn right onto BIA 7
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
18
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7
524 ft
·
16 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
19
Turn right onto BIA 6
492 ft
·
19 sec
·
Ephriam Hill Road
20
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
147 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
21
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue North
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You only need one planned stop to comfortably cover the 174.6 miles, making it easy to manage your fatigue levels. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long 83.4-mile stretch on I-94 to ensure you have enough range before turning onto Highway 281. Because the entire route is within the Great Plains, be prepared for open, exposed road conditions that can change quickly. Using your single designated stop mid-way through the drive will help keep you refreshed for the final approach into Fort Totten.
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 87.3 miles from West Fargo, ND, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 36m
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 West Fargo, 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 West Fargo, ND
This is one driving day of about 174.6 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Fargo, 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 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.3 mi from West Fargo, ND · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 87.3 miles from West Fargo, 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 83.4 miles.
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
$26.52 one way
$53.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.24 | $58.47 |
| premium | $4.80 | $32.96 | $65.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.79 | $77.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.33 | $8.38 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.28 | $6.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.8 | 0 | $24.44 | $11.17 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Jamestown, ND
87 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
10 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
3h 21m 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 West Fargo, ND to Fort Totten, ND covers 174.6 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, 5th Street Northwest, Highway 281 Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.3 miles from West Fargo, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.52 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 174.4 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from West Fargo, ND to Fort Totten, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
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