Crosby to Devils Lake is 244.8 miles and takes about 4h 42m via US-2 E and State Highway 5, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Dakota, traversing the Great Plains region. Expect a relatively straightforward trip with about 65% of the mileage on highways. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complexity. Consider this a solid choice for a single-day drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122.4 miles from Crosby, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US-2 E
66.7 mi
1h 15m
State Highway 5
34.7 mi
40m
2nd Avenue
30.7 mi
34m
United States Highway 52
29.4 mi
33m
US 2
22.5 mi
24m
57th Street North
21.7 mi
24m
506th Street Northwest
21.6 mi
24m
US Highway 2
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US-2 E
— 66.7 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crosby, ND and Devils Lake, ND.
1
Start on Main Street South
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street South
2
At end of road, turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn left onto ND 5
35 mi·40 min·State Highway 5
4
Continue on US 52; ND 5
29 mi·33 min·United States Highway 52
5
Continue on US 52
22 mi·24 min·506th Street Northwest
6
Continue on US 52
31 mi·34 min·2nd Avenue
7
Continue on US 2; US 52
6.1 mi·8 min·US Highway 2
8
Continue on US 2; US 52
9.4 mi·12 min·US-2 E
9
Continue on US 2
4.0 mi·4 min·4th Avenue
10
Continue on US 2
22 mi·24 min·57th Street North
11
Continue on US 2
6.1 mi·6 min·62nd Street Northeast
12
Continue on US 2; ND 14
57 mi·1 hr 3 min·US-2 E
13
Continue on US 2; US 281
23 mi·24 min·US 2; US 281
14
Turn left onto ND 19
0.3 mi·56 sec·4th Street Northwest
15
At end of road, turn left onto ND 20
365 ft·10 sec·College Drive North
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
ND 20
Trip Plan
Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Devils Lake comfortably within the 4h 42m estimated drive time. With only one recommended stop on this 244.8-mile trip, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 66.7-mile stretch on US-2 E, as services might be spaced out in rural North Dakota. The estimated fuel cost of $38 is a helpful budget point for this single-day journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.4 miles from Crosby, ND, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.7 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Devils Lake, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crosby, 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 Crosby, ND
This is one driving day of about 244.8 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Crosby, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US-2 E for about 66.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 244.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|8th Avenue Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 5 / State Highway 5
Turn left onto ND 5 / State Highway 5
Navigation decision point
3
244.4 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest
Turn left onto ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
7
244.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|ND 20 / College Drive North
At end of road, turn left onto ND 20 / College Drive North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.15 one way
$72.30 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.91
$79.82
premium
$4.72
$45.45
$90.90
diesel
$4.80
$46.22
$92.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.4
0
$25.70
$11.75
Efficient EV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
EV Truck/SUV
97.9
1
$34.27
$15.67
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Crosby, ND
Evening
in Crosby on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
S 12 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:05AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
Destination
Devils Lake, ND
Evening
in Devils Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
WNW 5 to 8 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:05AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 65% of the 244.8 miles on major roads like US-2 E. You'll experience a long stretch of 66.7 miles on US-2 E, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach and navigate through towns along the way, with State Highway 5 and 2nd Avenue becoming more prominent. Expect a rural feel with open spaces.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.7 mi on US-2 E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US-2 E and State Highway 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near 8th Avenue Southeast.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 42m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 244.4 miles (ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Crosby is a town in Western North Dakota with a population of just over a thousand. Crosby's elevation is 1,964 feet. Like much of this part of the Dakotas, it's not exactly a scenic wonderland or a thrill a minute.
Devils Lake is a small city in the Lakes and Gardens area of North Dakota. It has a population of about 7,141 people in 2010 census. Its elevation is 1,475 feet.
Top landmarks
•St. Mary's Academy — school building in North Dakota
The longest stretch is about 66.7 miles on US-2 E. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ND can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (ND 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 244.4 miles (ND 19 / 4th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Devils Lake, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
