If you are planning a trip from Fort Totten to West Fargo, expect a straightforward 175-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 22 minutes. Because this drive is concentrated within the Great Plains region, you will find it manageable as a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like I-94, US-52, and US-281, it is a highly efficient way to cross this part of North Dakota. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the predictability of these roads makes it an easy trip to complete in one go without needing an overnight stay.
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
87.5 miles from Fort Totten, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
83.2 mi
1h 19m
US-52
41.6 mi
48m
US 281
36.5 mi
50m
State Highway 57
5.3 mi
8m
I 94 Business
2.8 mi
4m
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:
I 94
— 83.2 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Totten, ND and West Fargo, 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
83 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 94; US 52
16
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
2.8 mi·4 min·I 94 Business
Toward US 10, I 94 BUS: Main Avenue
17
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·1st Street
18
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West
126 ft·5 sec·2nd Avenue West
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue West
Trip Plan
For the most relaxed experience, try to depart early in the morning to avoid any potential congestion near your destination. You only need to plan for one major stop along the way, which gives you plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs or grab a quick snack without falling behind schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer stretches, as even though the trip is relatively short, consistent highway speeds can increase consumption. Since you are spending nearly the entire time on major roads, ensure your vehicle is prepared for high-speed travel. Using your single allotted stop to refuel midway through the 175-mile trek will help you arrive in West Fargo with total peace of mind.
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 87.5 miles from Fort Totten, ND, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.2 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 39 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 55m 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 50m
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 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 175 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 I 94 for about 83.2 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 174.9 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North
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
172.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|2nd Avenue West
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue West
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.36 one way
$54.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.04
$60.08
premium
$4.89
$33.68
$67.35
diesel
$5.61
$38.64
$77.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.31
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Fargo, ND
Evening
in West Fargo on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Jamestown, ND
88 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
3h 22m 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?
Prepare for a drive defined by efficiency, as 97% of your time will be spent on highways. You will experience a mix of state and federal routes before settling into a long, steady cruise on I-94. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 83.2 miles, allowing you to settle into a consistent pace as you traverse the open plains. While the drive is focused on high-speed travel rather than technical winding roads, the transition between US-52, US-281, and the interstate provides enough variety to keep the journey from feeling monotonous. Expect a smooth, highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
97% 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: 83.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US-52. 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 West Fargo, ND is easy. At 3h 22m with 97% 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 1.1 miles (ND 57 / State Highway 57): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 83.2 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 (BIA 6 / Ephriam Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (BIA 7 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (ND 57 / State Highway 57): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at West Fargo, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
