Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
19m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carson, ND
Philipp Schwarz
Elgin, ND
Ilkauri Scheer
Carson to Elgin is 14.8 miles and takes about 19 minutes via State Highway 21, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within North Dakota's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a quick connector, perfect for adding to a larger itinerary or for those who prefer minimal time on the road. You'll find it’s a simple, efficient transition between two points in the same state.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 21 | 14 mi | 16m |
| Railroad Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Carson, ND and Elgin, ND.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Turn right onto ND 21
Continue on ND 21; ND 49
Turn right onto North Main Street
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northwest
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn right onto ND 21 / State Highway 21
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.46 one way
$4.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $2.68 | $5.36 |
| premium | $5.18 | $3.02 | $6.04 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.12 | $6.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Carson on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Elgin on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on designated highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14 miles, all on State Highway 21. You can expect a consistent driving experience, largely on well-maintained roads that prioritize direct travel. The transition from Railroad Avenue to South Main Street marks the end of the highway portion, bringing you into Elgin.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 21 and Railroad Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Main Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (ND 21 / State Highway 21): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
211 ft
Total Descent
156 ft
Highest Point
2,352 ft
~14.8 mi in
Elevation Range
99 ft
Founded 1910
Carson is a town in Western North Dakota. It has a population of about 319 people and an area of 4 square miles. Altitude is 2,305 feet.
Founded 1910
Elgin is a town in Western North Dakota. It has a population of about 659 people. Its elevations is 2,351 feet.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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