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Trip from Dickinson, ND to West Fargo, ND

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 37m

Distance

285.8 mi

460 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 24m ★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 3m
8 PM
4h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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seat of Stark County, North Dakota, United States

Dickinson, ND

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown West Fargo, ND, ND

West Fargo, ND

cole peters

Trip Overview

Spanning 284.2 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this trip between Dickinson and West Fargo is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 3 hours and 55 minutes. Given the manageable duration, it works perfectly as a single-day journey, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $42 on fuel, making it a relatively affordable excursion. Navigating this route involves a mix of local roads like West Villard Street, 3rd Avenue West, and US 10. Whether you are moving between these two hubs for business or personal travel, the drive offers a consistent look at the regional landscape. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.

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

142.9 miles from Dickinson, ND

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 281.5 mi 4h 29m
I 94 Business 2.8 mi 4m
3rd Avenue West 1.1 mi 1m
1st Street 0.1 mi <1m
West Villard Street <0.1 mi <1m
2nd Avenue West <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 281.5 mi, about 4h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dickinson, ND and West Fargo, 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

281 mi · 4 hr 29 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto I 94 Business

2.8 mi · 4 min · I 94 Business
Toward US 10, I 94 BUS: Main Avenue
8

Turn right onto 1st Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 1st Street
9

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West

126 ft · 5 sec · 2nd Avenue West
10

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue West

Trip Plan

Since this is a 3-hour and 55-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion on the local roads that define this route. Keep your $42 fuel budget in mind as you depart Dickinson, and consider topping off your tank before you hit the road to avoid unnecessary detours. Because the route is composed of local streets rather than a single highway, keep your GPS or navigation app updated and ready to handle the frequent turns along 3rd Avenue West and US 10. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive if you need an extra break along the way.

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 142.9 miles from Dickinson, ND, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 281.5 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 63 miles or 1h 1m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 142.9 miles or 2h 17m 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 45m

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 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 285.8 miles and 4h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 281.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Denhoff, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Denhoff, ND

143 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Beulah, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Denhoff, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.9 miles from Dickinson, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 281.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Los Cabos Family Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Dickinson, North Dakota

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+17014831841

Visit website

Marlin's Family Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bismarck, North Dakota

1 mi

Big Boy Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bismarck, North Dakota

2.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Thunder Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Fargo, North Dakota

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 285.8

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17014047743

Visit website

Faithful Blend

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dickinson, North Dakota

0.1 mi

Ladybug Latte

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Fargo, North Dakota

0.6 mi

Los Cabos Family Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+17014831841

Visit website

Marlin's Family Restaurant

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17012221568

Visit website

Big Boy Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17012234125

Visit website

Acapulco Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 285.8

Fargo, North Dakota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17012970355

Visit website

Coffee Cup Travel Plaza Steele - TA Express

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 142.9

Steele, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17014752274

Visit website

Caribou Coffee

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 142.9

Steele, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+17014752275

Visit website

Paradiso Mexican Restaurant

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17012241111

Visit website

India Clay Oven Bar and Grill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: 11 am–2:15 pm

+17017512975

Visit website

Thunder Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 285.8

West Fargo, North Dakota

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17014047743

Visit website

Faithful Blend

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17014838780

Visit website

Ladybug Latte

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 285.8

West Fargo, North Dakota

Hours: 5:30 am–5:30 pm

+17012009674

Visit website

Daily Perks

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Dickinson, North Dakota

Daily Perks

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 5 am–7 pm

+17014835282

Visit website

Serendipity Coffee Drive-thru

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+17014831946

Visit website

Good Humanity Coffee

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17015902645

Meg-A-Latte | Coffee House (Dickinson location)

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: 5:30 am–6 pm

+17014832877

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Circuit Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Dickinson, North Dakota

+18006869243

Visit website

InCharge Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333994638

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Dickinson, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Thunder Road

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 285.8

Fargo, North Dakota

+17012825151

Visit website

North Dakota State Capitol

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+17013282471

Visit website

Sakakawea Statue

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 102.1

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hours: 7:15 am–5:30 pm

+17013282666

Visit website

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 285.8 — 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

Turn right

Navigation decision point

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 94 Business / West Villard Street

Turn right onto I 94 Business / West Villard Street

Navigation decision point

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
282.9 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in | I 94 Business

Take the exit onto I 94 Business toward US 10, I 94 BUS: Main Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 10, I 94 BUS: Main Avenue
5
285.8 mi into trip | ~4h 37m in | 2nd Avenue West

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.68 one way

$89.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $49.06 $98.12
premium $4.89 $55.00 $110.00
diesel $5.61 $63.10 $126.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.7 1 $30.01 $13.72
Efficient EV 71.5 0 $25.01 $11.43
EV Truck/SUV 114.3 1 $40.01 $18.29

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 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 Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Dickinson, ND

Evening in Dickinson on Saturday

Local time

7:28 PM

MDT

Current temp

63°F

Partly Sunny

W 6 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 21 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Destination

West Fargo, ND

Evening in West Fargo on Saturday

Local time

8:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Sunny

NNW 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:10AM CDT until April 21 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND

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 37m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route relies on local thoroughfares rather than major highways. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more engaged driving experience that requires frequent attention to your turns and navigation. Because you are primarily traversing local streets, there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road to zone out on; in fact, the longest stretch on West Villard Street is 0 miles. This character makes the journey feel more like a localized navigation task than a high-speed cruise. You will stay focused on the changing road conditions as you progress across the plains toward your destination.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 281.5 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 94 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 37m 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (I 94 Business / West Villard Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in West Fargo, ND

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 285.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 281.5 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (I 94 Business / West Villard Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at West Fargo, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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