Drive or Fly: Watford City, ND to Horace, ND?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for XWA–FAR. At 376 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 23m

Distance

376.5 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

152 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 53m

37m in the air

Air Distance

308 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

78 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Watford City, ND → XWA 58m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAR → Horace, ND 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Watford City, ND XWA — Williston Basin International Airport 38 mi, ~58m drive

Horace, ND FAR — Hector International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between XWA and FAR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 30m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 37m

8h on rail

Total Cost

$66

CO2

19 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Watford City, ND → Williston Amtrak Station 42m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 480m

Arrival 10m

Fargo Amtrak Station → Horace, ND 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $66) $66

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Williston Amtrak Station 28 mi, ~42m drive

To Fargo Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 23m	3h 53m	9h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$187	$66
Carbon footprint	152 kg CO₂	78 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Watford City, ND to Horace, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.