If you are planning to travel from Fort Totten to Valley City, expect a straightforward 121.5-mile journey across the North Dakota plains. The drive typically takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US-52, US-281, and I-94 to complete the trek. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion. Navigating entirely within the Great Plains region, the route offers a consistent landscape that is ideal for those who prefer steady highway driving over complex navigation.
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
60.8 miles from Fort Totten, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US-52
41.6 mi
48m
US 281
36.5 mi
50m
I 94
30.6 mi
28m
State Highway 57
5.3 mi
8m
West Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
4th Avenue North
1.4 mi
3m
1st Avenue North
1 mi
1m
Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US-52
— 41.6 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Totten, ND and Valley City, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue North
147 ft·9 sec·2nd Avenue North
2
Turn right onto BIA 6
492 ft·18 sec·Ephriam Hill Road
3
Turn left onto BIA 7
524 ft·16 sec·3rd Avenue North
4
Turn right onto BIA 7
0.9 mi·2 min·Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
5
At end of road, turn left onto ND 57
5.3 mi·8 min·State Highway 57
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 281
36 mi·50 min·US 281
7
Enter roundabout onto US 52; US 281
166 ft·5 sec·4th Avenue North
8
Continue on US 52; US 281
1.4 mi·3 min·4th Avenue North
9
Continue on US 52; US 281
42 mi·48 min·US-52
10
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
1.0 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
11
Turn slight right onto 10th Street Southeast
0.6 mi·57 sec·10th Street Southeast
12
Turn straight onto 12th Avenue
0.3 mi·23 sec·12th Avenue
13
Continue on Business Loop East
0.6 mi·57 sec·Business Loop East
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 94; US 52
31 mi·28 min·I 94; US 52
16
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi·26 sec·I 94 Business
Exit 290Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
17
Turn left onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·24th Avenue Southwest
18
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
I 94 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak traffic. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, which will break up the 2.5-hour duration effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Fort Totten, as having your $18 of gas ready will ensure you do not need to hunt for stations during the longest 41.6-mile stretch. Given the rural nature of the Great Plains, checking weather conditions before you head out is a smart way to ensure a smooth trip. Embracing the simplicity of this route allows you to reach Valley City refreshed and ready for your next destination.
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 60.8 miles from Fort Totten, ND, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 1h 24m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley City, 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 121.5 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 US-52 for about 41.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 119.4 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|BIA 7 / Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
Turn right onto BIA 7 / Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|ND 57 / State Highway 57
At end of road, turn left onto ND 57 / State Highway 57
Navigation decision point
5
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|I 94 Business
Take the exit onto I 94 Business toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 290
Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.00 one way
$37.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.86
$41.71
premium
$4.89
$23.38
$46.76
diesel
$5.61
$26.83
$53.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.4
0
$12.76
$5.83
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
EV Truck/SUV
48.6
0
$17.01
$7.78
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Totten, ND
Evening
in Fort Totten on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Valley City, ND
Evening
in Valley City on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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 30m 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 heavily focused on highway travel, with 94% of your time spent on major roads. You will encounter a mix of highway types, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.6 miles on US-52. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed thoroughfares, you can maintain a consistent pace throughout the journey. Behind the wheel, you should expect a predictable experience that transitions from smaller US routes onto the wider, faster I-94. The character of the drive is efficient and functional, perfect for travelers looking to move between these two North Dakota points without unnecessary delays.
94% 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: 41.6 mi on US-52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US-52 and US 281. 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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Totten, ND to Valley City, ND is easy. At 2h 30m with 94% 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 0.2 miles (BIA 7 / Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 121.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 41.6 miles on US-52. 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 0.2 miles (BIA 7 / Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Valley City, ND before heading back.
