Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frontier, ND
Tomáš Malík
Buffalo, ND
Utkarsh Shukla
Frontier to Buffalo is 42.4 miles and takes about 46 minutes via I 94 and State Highway 38, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Great Plains region of North Dakota. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward and efficient drive. Consider this a quick hop between two points, ideal for a day trip or as a brief segment of a larger journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 34.5 mi | 34m |
| State Highway 38 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| I 29 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| 52nd Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 34th Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 54th Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 33rd Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Frontier, ND and Buffalo, ND.
Start on 33rd Street South
Turn left onto 54th Avenue South
Turn right onto 34th Street South
Turn right onto US 81 Business
Continue on US 81 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 29; US 81
Take the exit
Merge onto I 94; US 52
Take the exit
Turn right onto ND 38
Turn right onto CR 10
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Frontier, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 54th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 34th Street South
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 81 Business / 52nd Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward ND 38 North: Buffalo, Alice
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.57 one way
$13.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.23 | $16.45 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.35 | $18.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Frontier on Wednesday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Buffalo on Wednesday
Local time
7:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is almost entirely highway, with 95% of your travel on interstates and main roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 34.5 miles on I 94. You'll experience rural interstate cruising for the majority of the drive before transitioning to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect minimal traffic and straightforward navigation.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 38. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 54th Avenue South.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.4 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (54th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (34th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 81 Business / 52nd Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
305 ft
Total Descent
5 ft
Highest Point
1,206 ft
~42.4 mi in
Elevation Range
304 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Frontier, ND to Buffalo, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Alice along the way.
Alice
Founded 1976
Buffalo is a small town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota between Fargo and Valley City. It has a population of about 209 people.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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