Dickinson, ND to Thompson, ND is 342.7 miles and takes about 5h 46m via I 94 and State Highway 18, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within North Dakota the entire time, traversing the Great Plains region. Expect a predominantly interstate experience, making it a practical choice for a single-day journey. If you're looking for a no-fuss trip across the state, this route gets you there efficiently.
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
171.4 miles from Dickinson, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
266.7 mi
4h 15m
State Highway 18
30 mi
35m
I 29
29.2 mi
27m
State Highway 200 Alternate
8 mi
9m
153rd Avenue Southeast
2.1 mi
5m
35th Street Southeast
2 mi
2m
State Highway 15
1.1 mi
1m
3rd Avenue West
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 266.7 mi, about 4h 15m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~525 veh/hr typical
· worst 743
Quietest
3 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dickinson, ND and Thompson, 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
267 mi·4 hr 15 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 328Toward Lynchburg
8
Turn left onto 153rd Avenue Southeast
2.1 mi·5 min·153rd Avenue Southeast
9
At end of road, turn right onto CR 10
2.0 mi·2 min·35th Street Southeast
10
Continue on CR 10
0.1 mi·22 sec·5th Street North
11
At end of road, turn left onto ND 18
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 18
12
Continue on ND 18
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Continue on ND 18
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 18
14
Continue on ND 18
0.3 mi·49 sec·Main Street
15
Continue on ND 18
11 mi·12 min·State Highway 18
16
Turn right onto ND 200 Alternate
8.0 mi·9 min·State Highway 200 Alternate
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks
18
Merge onto I 29; US 81
29 mi·27 min·I 29; US 81
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 130Toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson
20
Turn left onto ND 15
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 15
21
Continue on ND 15
0.5 mi·1 min·Broadway Street
22
Arrive at destination
ND 15
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 46m duration, starting in the morning from Dickinson will allow ample time to reach Thompson before evening. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 266.7-mile stretch on I 94 for fuel and a quick stretch. Since this is a single-day drive, flexibility is key; you can adjust your departure time based on weather or personal preference. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading onto State Highway 18, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate.
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 171.4 miles from Dickinson, ND, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266.7 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 75 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.4 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thompson, 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 342.7 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 266.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 340.9 — 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
268.1 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward Lynchburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 328
Toward Lynchburg
5
272.6 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|ND 18 / State Highway 18
At end of road, turn left onto ND 18 / State Highway 18
Navigation decision point
6
311.5 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Take the ramp toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks
6
340.9 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 130
Toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.98 one way
$113.95 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$62.06
$124.13
premium
$5.18
$69.93
$139.86
diesel
$5.35
$72.18
$144.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.8
1
$35.98
$16.45
Efficient EV
85.7
0
$29.99
$13.71
EV Truck/SUV
137.1
1
$47.98
$21.93
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Dickinson, ND
Afternoon
in Dickinson on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Thompson, ND
Afternoon
in Thompson on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 9 mph66% chanceLive forecast
61°F
Medina, ND
171 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
35 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
5h 46m 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 drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 98% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on fast-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 266.7 miles on I 94, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. The profile is consistently highway-focused, so you can anticipate a steady pace for the majority of the trip. While the landscape is characteristic of the Great Plains, the route prioritizes efficient travel over varied road types.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 266.7 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 18. 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 5h 46m drive. You will face about 13 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 268.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 272.6 miles (ND 18 / State Highway 18): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,460 ft870 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
1,865 ft
Highest Point
2,460 ft
~24.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,590 ft
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 Thompson, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Lynchburg along the way.
The longest stretch is about 266.7 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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 18 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 1.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 272.6 miles (ND 18 / State Highway 18): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thompson, ND before the return drive.
