Spanning 265 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this drive from Dickinson to Fort Totten typically takes about 4 hours and 52 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on major thoroughfares, specifically I-94, State Highway 3, and US 281. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, it serves as a straightforward transit route rather than a multi-day excursion. Budget roughly $40 for fuel to complete the trek comfortably. Whether you are looking for a efficient way to cross the state or planning a regional road trip, this highway-focused drive offers a predictable and reliable path between the two points.
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
132.5 miles from Dickinson, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
138.8 mi
2h 13m
State Highway 3
41.4 mi
47m
US 281
23.5 mi
34m
State Highway 200
16.4 mi
19m
State Highway 15
13.9 mi
16m
State Highway 30
13 mi
15m
United States Highway 52
10 mi
11m
State Highway 57
5.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 138.8 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dickinson, ND and Fort Totten, ND.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right
51 ft·5 sec
3
Turn right onto I 94 Business
139 ft·6 sec·West Villard Street
4
Turn right onto ND 22
1.1 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue West
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
6
Merge onto I 94
139 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward ND 3 North: Steele, Tuttle
8
Turn left onto ND 3
41 mi·47 min·State Highway 3
9
At end of road, turn right onto ND 200; ND 3
16 mi·19 min·State Highway 200
10
Continue on US 52; ND 200
10.0 mi·11 min·United States Highway 52
11
Turn left onto ND 30
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 30
12
Turn right onto ND 15
14 mi·16 min·State Highway 15
13
Turn left onto US 281; ND 15
23 mi·34 min·US 281; ND 15
14
Turn right onto ND 57
5.3 mi·8 min·State Highway 57
15
Turn right onto BIA 7
0.9 mi·2 min·Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
16
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7
524 ft·16 sec·3rd Avenue North
17
Turn right onto BIA 6
492 ft·19 sec·Ephriam Hill Road
18
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
147 ft·6 sec·2nd Avenue North
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue North
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-five-hour drive, you have the flexibility to complete the entire route in one sitting with just a single planned stop to break up the monotony. Aim to depart early in the morning to navigate the longest interstate segments before midday traffic peaks. Given the $40 fuel estimate, ensure you top off your tank in Dickinson before heading out to avoid paying premium prices at smaller, isolated stations along the highway. Keep a close eye on your odometer during that initial 138.8-mile stint on I-94 to help you gauge exactly when to pull over for your one scheduled rest break.
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 132.5 miles from Dickinson, ND, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.8 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 58 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.5 miles or 2h 9m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Totten, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dickinson, 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 Dickinson, ND
This is one driving day of about 265 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Dickinson, 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 94 for about 138.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 264.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
140.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward ND 3 North: Steele, Tuttle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward ND 3 North: Steele, Tuttle
5
181.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|ND 200; ND 3 / State Highway 200
At end of road, turn right onto ND 200; ND 3 / State Highway 200
Navigation decision point
5
264.7 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
At end of road, turn left onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
264.8 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Turn right onto BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.43 one way
$82.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.49
$90.98
premium
$4.89
$51.00
$101.99
diesel
$5.61
$58.51
$117.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.5
0
$27.83
$12.72
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
EV Truck/SUV
106
1
$37.10
$16.96
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dickinson, ND
Evening
in Dickinson on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Totten, ND
Evening
in Fort Totten on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Goodrich, ND
133 mi in
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
8 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
4h 52m 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?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience with 99% of your travel occurring on paved, high-speed roads. The journey begins with a significant 138.8-mile stretch on I-94, which allows you to cover ground quickly before transitioning to State Highway 3 and US 281 for the remainder of the trip. While the route is largely monotonous due to its reliance on major transit corridors, it provides a consistent driving experience across the Great Plains landscape. You will spend very little time on local roads, making this an ideal choice if you prioritize speed and direct navigation over winding backroads.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 3. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 94.
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 52m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.8 miles (ND 200; ND 3 / State Highway 200): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dickinson, ND to Fort Totten, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Tuttle along the way.
Tuttle
140.2 mi in|~2h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 265 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 138.8 miles on I 94. 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: at 1.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.8 miles (ND 200; ND 3 / State Highway 200): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Totten, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
