Spanning 134.4 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this route from Fort Totten to Minot is a straightforward journey typically taking about 2 hours and 39 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an efficient way to traverse the state. Expect to spend roughly $20 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route relies heavily on Highway 2 West and US-2 W, providing a direct path between the two locations. Because it is a manageable distance, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection for travelers moving through the heart of the region.
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
67.2 miles from Fort Totten, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 2 West
59 mi
1h 6m
US-2 W
27.4 mi
30m
57th Street North
21.7 mi
24m
State Highway 57
7 mi
9m
62nd Street Northeast
6.1 mi
6m
State Highway 20
5 mi
7m
4th Avenue
4 mi
4m
Burdick Expressway East
3.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Highway 2 West
— 59 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Totten, ND and Minot, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue North
147 ft·9 sec·2nd Avenue North
2
Turn right onto BIA 6
492 ft·15 sec·Ephriam Hill Road
3
Turn right onto BIA 7
0.6 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
4
At end of road, turn right onto ND 57
7.0 mi·9 min·State Highway 57
5
Continue on ND 20
5.0 mi·7 min·State Highway 20
6
Turn left onto US 2
59 mi·1 hr 6 min·Highway 2 West
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on US 2
22 mi·23 min·US-2 W
8
Continue on US 2
6.1 mi·6 min·62nd Street Northeast
9
Continue on US 2
22 mi·24 min·57th Street North
10
Continue on US 2
4.0 mi·4 min·4th Avenue
11
Continue on US 2
5.8 mi·7 min·US-2 W
12
Turn right onto US 2 Business
513 ft·11 sec·US-2 Business
13
Continue on US 2 Business
3.4 mi·7 min·Burdick Expressway East
14
Arrive at destination
US 2 Business; US 52 Business
Trip Plan
Since the drive takes less than three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop along the 134.4-mile stretch to stretch your legs and break up the monotony of the highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Fort Totten, even though the $20 estimated cost is relatively low for this distance. Because the majority of your time is spent on US-2 W, ensure you are comfortable with high-speed travel and maintaining a consistent pace. A smart strategy is to check local weather conditions before heading out, as open plains driving in North Dakota can be significantly affected by wind or visibility changes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.2 miles from Fort Totten, ND, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minot, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Totten, 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 Fort Totten, ND
This is one driving day of about 134.4 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Fort Totten, 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 Highway 2 West for about 59 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 130.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Turn right onto BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 57 / State Highway 57
At end of road, turn right onto ND 57 / State Highway 57
Navigation decision point
4
12.7 mi into trip|~18m in|US 2 / Highway 2 West
Turn left onto US 2 / Highway 2 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
130.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 2 Business / US-2 Business
Turn right onto US 2 Business / US-2 Business
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.01 one way
$42.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.07
$46.14
premium
$4.89
$25.86
$51.73
diesel
$5.61
$29.67
$59.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Totten, ND
Evening
in Fort Totten on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minot, ND
Evening
in Minot on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
4 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
2h 39m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your time spent on major roads that keep you moving efficiently. You will find yourself navigating a primary stretch of 59 miles on Highway 2 West, which represents the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. As you transition onto US-2 W and utilize 57th Street North, the road feels consistent and reliable. Expect a steady, predictable rhythm behind the wheel as you cross the open landscape. It is not a technical route, making it a stress-free experience for those who prefer straightforward highway cruising over winding backroads.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on Highway 2 West.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 2 West and US-2 W. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Totten, ND to Minot, ND is easy. At 2h 39m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (ND 57 / State Highway 57): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,615 ft1,461 ft
Total Climb
267 ft
Total Descent
144 ft
Highest Point
1,615 ft
~134.4 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 134.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 59 miles on Highway 2 West. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (ND 57 / State Highway 57): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Minot, ND before heading back.
