Summer Road Trips in North Dakota

Routes

Avg Distance

314 mi

Avg Drive

5h 33m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Sep 2, 2026

2 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

North Dakota's summer drives offer a unique perspective on the Great Plains, with routes averaging 314 miles and around 5.5 hours of driving. You'll find drives with a score as high as 8, reaching elevations up to 2,659 feet. For EV drivers, some routes boast excellent coverage and over 20 DC fast chargers. This season is ideal for exploring the state's wide-open landscapes under long daylight hours.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.94/gal

Diesel: $5.60/gal

Typical trip cost

$41–$69

One-way, ~314 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~110 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-08-31

Climate through the year: North Dakota

North Dakota peaks at around 82°F in Jul and cools to 18°F / 0°F in Jan. Wettest month is Jun at ~4.3 in of rain. Table highlights Summer months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	18	0	0.7	10.3
Feb	23	4	0.7	8.1
Mar	36	18	1.3	9.2
Apr	54	32	1.5	4.1
May	69	44	3.1	—
Jun peak	78	56	4.3	—
Jul peak	82	59	3.1	—
Aug peak	81	57	2.6	—
Sep	72	48	2.7	—
Oct	56	35	2.2	1.2
Nov	38	21	1	6.8
Dec	24	8	0.9	11.7

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for ND — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Carry extra water — summer heat in the car and at rest stops dehydrates faster than you think.
Start drives early or late to avoid peak afternoon heat, especially through desert or plains stretches.
Check your tire pressure before long summer drives — hot pavement increases blowout risk with underinflated tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in North Dakota that work well for summer travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 314 miles).

Current regular gas averages $3.94/gallon in North Dakota (week of 2026-08-31). Diesel: $5.60/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $41 and $69. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Jun, Jul, Aug, North Dakota typically sees daytime highs in the 78–82°F range with about 3.3 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Summer Routes

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