Spanning 165.6 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this route connects Devils Lake to West Fargo in roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes. It functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating the trip involves a combination of regional roads like 23rd Avenue and 43rd Street Northeast, eventually merging onto I-29. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a manageable trek for any driver. Because both your origin and destination are located within the same Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your transit.
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
82.8 miles from Devils Lake, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
75.7 mi
1h 13m
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
Main Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
College Drive North
0.7 mi
1m
South Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 75.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Devils Lake, ND and West Fargo, 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
76 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 29; US 81
Toward I 29 South, US 81 South: FargoUse the right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo
11
Keep slight right at fork
222 ft·5 sec
12
Turn straight onto I 94 Business; US 10
2.6 mi·4 min·Main Avenue
13
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·1st Street
14
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West
126 ft·5 sec·2nd Avenue West
15
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue West
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 165.6-mile trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. You should factor in at least one planned stop to break up the 3-hour and 15-minute duration, allowing you to stretch your legs and refresh before reaching West Fargo. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the $25 estimate assumes consistent driving conditions across the varied road types. Since you are navigating a mix of 23rd Avenue, 43rd Street Northeast, and I-29, ensure your navigation is set before leaving Devils Lake to handle the transition between local roads and the interstate smoothly. This flexibility allows you to manage your own pace without the pressure of a multi-day itinerary.
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 82.8 miles from Devils Lake, ND, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.7 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 36 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.8 miles or 1h 50m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Fargo, 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 165.6 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 75.7 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
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 165.6 — 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.
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
5
162.5 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 10: Downtown Fargo, West Fargo
5
162.8 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
165.6 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|2nd Avenue West
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.89 one way
$51.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.43
$56.85
premium
$4.89
$31.87
$63.74
diesel
$5.61
$36.56
$73.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Efficient EV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
EV Truck/SUV
66.2
0
$23.18
$10.60
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Devils Lake, ND
Evening
in Devils Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Fargo, ND
Evening
in West Fargo on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
5 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
3h 15m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between local thoroughfares and major infrastructure. With 59% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will spend a significant portion of your time cruising at higher speeds. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-29, where you will cover 75.7 miles of open road. The transition from smaller local arteries to the interstate requires you to be prepared for shifting traffic patterns. While the drive is relatively efficient, the blend of local streets and high-speed highway segments ensures you remain engaged behind the wheel throughout the 3-hour journey.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.7 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ND 20 / College Drive North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ND 20 / College Drive North): 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; at 162.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
West Fargo is a suburb in the Fargo/Moorhead metropolitan area. The city features a multitude of shopping and dining opportunities, as well as a number of lodging options. West Fargo's population exploded from fewer than 15,000 to more than 20,000 between 1990 and 2000, and continues to increase rapidly as Fargo and Moorhead to drive the growth of the entire metropolitan area.
The longest stretch is about 75.7 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 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; at 162.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at West Fargo, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
