Devils Lake, ND to Horace, ND is 175.6 miles and takes about 3h 27m via I 29, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward trip across North Dakota. With one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, it's a practical choice for a single-day excursion. The route is efficient, making it suitable for those looking to cover ground without extensive detours. Plan for a direct transit between these two North Dakota points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.8 miles from Devils Lake, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
84.8 mi
1h 23m
23rd Avenue
34.2 mi
38m
43rd Street Northeast
25.3 mi
28m
Highway 2 East
22.1 mi
41m
Gateway Drive
3.7 mi
5m
100th Avenue South
2.9 mi
5m
College Drive North
0.7 mi
1m
170th Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 84.8 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Devils Lake, ND and Horace, ND.
1
Start on ND 20
0.7 mi·1 min·College Drive North
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 2
22 mi·41 min·Highway 2 East
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 2
3.3 mi·3 min·43rd Street Northeast
4
Continue on US 2
0.3 mi·20 sec·4th Avenue Southwest
5
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·31 sec·South Street
6
Continue on US 2
22 mi·24 min·43rd Street Northeast
7
Continue on US 2
34 mi·38 min·23rd Avenue
8
Continue on US 2
3.7 mi·5 min·Gateway Drive
9
Take the exit onto I 29; US 81
85 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 29; US 81
Toward I 29 South, US 81 South: FargoUse the right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 56Toward Wild Rice, Horace
11
Turn right onto CR 14
164 ft·3 sec·County Road 14
12
Continue on CR 14
2.9 mi·5 min·100th Avenue South
13
Turn right onto CR 17
0.5 mi·55 sec·170th Avenue Southeast
14
Continue on CR 17
0.3 mi·38 sec·Main Street
15
Turn right onto Center Avenue
40 ft·1 sec·Center Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Center Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 27m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Horace well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $27; filling up before you leave Devils Lake is a good idea. The longest stretch without a significant break is 84.8 miles on I 29, so plan your needs accordingly before embarking on that section.
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 87.8 miles from Devils Lake, ND, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.8 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 39 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horace, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Devils Lake, 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 Devils Lake, ND
This is one driving day of about 175.6 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Devils Lake, 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 I 29 for about 84.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 171.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ND 20 / College Drive North
Depart onto ND 20 / College Drive North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|US 2 / Highway 2 East
Turn left onto US 2 / Highway 2 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 29; US 81
Take the exit onto I 29; US 81 toward I 29 South, US 81 South: Fargo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 29 South, US 81 South: Fargo
6
171.6 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward Wild Rice, Horace
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56
Toward Wild Rice, Horace
4
171.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|CR 14 / County Road 14
Turn right onto CR 14 / County Road 14
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.45 one way
$54.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.14
$60.28
premium
$4.89
$33.79
$67.59
diesel
$5.61
$38.77
$77.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.58
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Devils Lake, ND
Late night
in Devils Lake on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Horace, ND
Late night
in Horace on Tuesday
Local time
4:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live 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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 61% of this 175.6-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 84.8 miles on I 29. After that, expect to transition to surface roads like 23rd Avenue and 43rd Street Northeast. The latter part of the drive will feel more rural, with fewer exits and a steadier pace.
61% 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: 84.8 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and 23rd Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ND 20 / College Drive North.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Devils Lake, ND to Horace, ND is easy. At 3h 27m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ND 20 / College Drive North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (US 2 / Highway 2 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles (I 29; US 81): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 175.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 84.8 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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: near the start (ND 20 / College Drive North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (US 2 / Highway 2 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.8 miles (I 29; US 81): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Horace, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
