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Trip from West Fargo, ND to Gardner, ND

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

28m

Distance

24.2 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m

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 West Fargo, ND, ND

West Fargo, ND

cole peters

Trip Overview

The drive from West Fargo, ND to Gardner, ND covers 24.2 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 29, Main Avenue East, Front Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.78 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

12.1 miles from West Fargo, ND

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 28m highway drive covering 24.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and Main Avenue East. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 29.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and Main Avenue East. 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 28m drive. You will face about 6 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 0.2 miles (I 94 Business; US 10 / Main Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (I 29; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These 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

3
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 94 Business; US 10 / Main Avenue East

Turn right onto I 94 Business; US 10 / Main Avenue East

Navigation decision point

3
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 29; US 81

Merge onto I 29; US 81

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
23.5 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Gardner

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 86 Toward Gardner
4
23.7 mi into trip | ~26m in | CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast

Turn right onto CR 26 / 18th Street Southeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 20.3 mi 20m
Main Avenue East 2.8 mi 4m
Front Street 0.3 mi 1m
1st Street 0.1 mi <1m
18th Street Southeast 0.1 mi <1m
2nd Avenue West <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 20.3 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Fargo, ND and Gardner, ND.

1

Start on 2nd Avenue West

126 ft · 11 sec · 2nd Avenue West
2

Turn left onto 1st Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 1st Street
3

Turn right onto I 94 Business; US 10

2.8 mi · 4 min · Main Avenue East
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
5

Merge onto I 29; US 81

20 mi · 20 min · I 29; US 81
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 86 Toward Gardner
7

Turn right onto CR 26

0.1 mi · 20 sec · 18th Street Southeast
8

Turn right onto Front Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Front Street
9

Arrive at destination

Front Street

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 12.1 miles from West Fargo, ND, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.3 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 24.2 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.1 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardner, 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 24.2 miles and 28m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 20.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.1 mi from West Fargo, ND · 14m into the drive

Downtown Horace, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Horace, ND

12 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

Horace, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Horace, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from West Fargo, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gardner, ND

The final approach into Gardner, 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 Gardner, 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

$3.78 one way

$7.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.15 $8.31
premium $4.89 $4.66 $9.31
diesel $5.61 $5.34 $10.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.3 0 $2.54 $1.16
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.12 $0.97
EV Truck/SUV 9.7 0 $3.39 $1.55

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

West Fargo, ND

Evening in West Fargo on Tuesday

Local time

5:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Sunny

NNW 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 21 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

Gardner, ND

Evening in Gardner on Tuesday

Local time

5:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

3 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

28m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Gardner, ND covers 24.2 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, Main Avenue East, Front Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 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 $3.78 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.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 6 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 0.2 miles (I 94 Business; US 10 / Main Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (I 29; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from West Fargo, ND to Gardner, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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