Crosby, ND to Valley City, ND is 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 22m via US-52, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across North Dakota. With most of the route on a single main highway, it's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. Consider this if you prioritize direct travel over a leisurely pace, as it's designed for single-day completion.
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
164.1 miles from Crosby, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US-52
87.5 mi
1h 41m
US 52
54.2 mi
1h 4m
United States Highway 52
52.4 mi
1h
State Highway 5
34.7 mi
40m
2nd Avenue
30.7 mi
34m
I 94
30.6 mi
28m
506th Street Northwest
21.6 mi
24m
US Highway 2
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US-52
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crosby, ND and Valley City, 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
1.5 mi·2 min·US-2 E
9
Continue on US 2; US 52
359 ft·5 sec·Highway 2-52
10
Take the exit onto US 52
0.4 mi·54 sec·US 52
Toward US 52 East, US 52 Business: JamestownUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto US 52
54 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 52
12
Continue on US 52
6.7 mi·7 min·US-52
13
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·23 sec·1st Street
14
Continue on US 52
11 mi·13 min·US-52
15
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·21 sec·United State Highway 52
16
Continue on US 52
28 mi·32 min·US-52
17
Turn left onto US 52; ND 200
23 mi·26 min·United States Highway 52
18
Turn right onto 1605
0.9 mi·1 min·19th Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto 7th Street South
1.0 mi·2 min·7th Street South
20
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
0.4 mi·42 sec·4th Avenue South
21
Continue on US 52; US 281
42 mi·48 min·US-52
22
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
1.0 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
23
Turn slight right onto 10th Street Southeast
0.6 mi·57 sec·10th Street Southeast
24
Turn straight onto 12th Avenue
0.3 mi·23 sec·12th Avenue
25
Continue on Business Loop East
0.6 mi·57 sec·Business Loop East
26
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
27
Merge onto I 94; US 52
31 mi·28 min·I 94; US 52
28
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi·26 sec·I 94 Business
Exit 290Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
29
Turn left onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·24th Avenue Southwest
30
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·West Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
I 94 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 22m duration, departing in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete this 328.1-mile trip. The route is primarily highway, so plan for one main stop for fuel and a break, as you'll encounter the longest stretch on US-52 being 87.5 miles. With a fuel cost estimated around $50, it's a budget-friendly option. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you leave the main highway for the final miles into Valley City, as services might become less frequent.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.1 miles from Crosby, ND, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 72 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.1 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley City, 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 328.1 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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-52 for about 87.5 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
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 326 — 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
7
124.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 East, US 52 Business: Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 52 East, US 52 Business: Jamestown
5
248.6 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|1605 / 19th Avenue
Turn right onto 1605 / 19th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
326 mi into trip|~6h 19m in|I 94 Business
Take the exit onto I 94 Business toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 290
Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.55 one way
$109.10 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$59.42
$118.84
premium
$5.18
$66.95
$133.90
diesel
$5.35
$69.11
$138.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Crosby, ND
Afternoon
in Crosby on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 14 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Valley City, ND
Afternoon
in Valley City on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph56% chanceLive forecast
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
6 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
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend most of your time on United States Highway 52, which accounts for 82% of the drive. This means you'll experience about 269 miles of consistent highway cruising. The longest stretch without needing to navigate off US-52 is 87.5 miles, so you'll have ample opportunity for steady driving. You'll transition from highway to surface roads for the remaining miles, likely noticing a shift in speed and traffic density.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.5 mi on US-52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US-52 and US 52. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 22m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 124.9 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 87.5 miles on US-52. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Valley City, ND before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 124.9 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Valley City, ND before the return drive.
