Origin
West Fargo, ND
Afternoon in West Fargo on Friday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Fargo, ND to Thompson, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
69.5 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Fargo, ND
cole peters
Trip Overview
The drive from West Fargo, ND to Thompson, ND covers 69.5 miles and takes about 1h 11m 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, State Highway 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.5 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 11m highway drive covering 69.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and Main Avenue East. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.5 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 64.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and Main Avenue East. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Fargo, ND to Thompson, ND is easy. At 1h 11m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 5 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
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
6
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
4
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
ND 15 / State Highway 15
Turn left onto ND 15 / State Highway 15
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 64.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Main Avenue East | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 15 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Fargo, ND and Thompson, 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
64 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 29; US 81
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 130
Toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson
7
Turn left onto ND 15
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 15
8
Continue on ND 15
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street
9
Arrive at destination
ND 15
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.8 mi from West Fargo, ND · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.8 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 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.5 miles.
Arriving in Thompson, ND
The final approach into Thompson, ND usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.87 one way
$21.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.37 | $26.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.34 | $30.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.30 | $3.34 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Thompson, ND
Afternoon in Thompson on Friday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Gardner, ND
35 mi in
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
26 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
1h 11m 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 Thompson, ND covers 69.5 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, Main Avenue East, State Highway 15. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.8 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 $10.87 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.
The drive from West Fargo, ND to Thompson, ND is easy. At 1h 11m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 Thompson, 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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