Origin
Hazen, ND
Evening in Hazen on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hazen, ND to Valley City, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 29m
Distance
205.1 mi
330 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hazen, ND
Zulfugar Karimov
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Trip Overview
This 204.9-mile journey from Hazen, North Dakota, to Valley City, North Dakota, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 3 hours and 3 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like Railroad Avenue, 4th Avenue Northeast, and County Road 18, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $31. Given its relatively short duration and turn-heavy profile, this route is best suited for a relaxed day trip rather than requiring an overnight stop. You'll be traversing the Great Plains region throughout your drive.
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
102.6 miles from Hazen, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 162.7 mi | 2h 36m |
| State Highway 31 | 30.5 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 200 | 9 mi | 11m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 4th Avenue Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 24th Avenue Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 94 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 162.7 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazen, ND and Valley City, ND.
1
Start on Main Street East
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street East
2
Continue on Railroad Avenue
368 ft
·
17 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
3
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
4th Avenue Northeast
4
Continue on County Road 18
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
County Road 18
5
Continue on 4th Avenue Northeast
457 ft
·
23 sec
·
4th Avenue Northeast
6
Turn right onto ND 200
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 200
7
Turn right onto ND 31
30 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 31
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
9
Merge onto I 94
163 mi
·
2 hr 36 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 94 Business
Exit 290
Toward I 94 BUS: Valley City
11
Turn left onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
24th Avenue Southwest
12
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
I 94 Business
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 3 hours, this 204.9-mile route offers flexibility for departure times. Consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a leisurely start and to avoid any potential early morning fog common in the Great Plains. The route involves frequent turns, so staying alert and keeping your navigation active is key. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, you should have sufficient fuel for the trip, but it's always wise to top off before departing Hazen. Take advantage of the short drive by planning one stop for a quick break or to stretch your legs.
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 102.6 miles from Hazen, ND, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.7 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 52m
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 Hazen, 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 Hazen, ND
This is one driving day of about 205.1 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Hazen, 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 162.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.6 miles from Hazen, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 162.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 203 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
4th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
ND 200 / State Highway 200
Turn right onto ND 200 / State Highway 200
Navigation decision point
6
9.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
ND 31 / State Highway 31
Turn right onto ND 31 / State Highway 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
40.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
203 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m 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
$32.07 one way
$64.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.21 | $70.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.47 | $78.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.28 | $90.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.54 | $9.84 |
| Efficient EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82 | 1 | $28.71 | $13.13 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Valley City, ND
Evening in Valley City on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Goodrich, ND
103 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
4 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
3h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 204.9-mile trip, as indicated by a 0% highway share. This means you'll be making frequent turns and adjustments, making it feel more like navigating through communities rather than a straightforward highway cruise. There isn't a 'longest stretch' specified, suggesting a continuous series of roads rather than long, uninterrupted segments. The character of the drive is consistent, focusing on local routes throughout its 3-hour duration.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 4th Avenue Northeast.
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 3h 29m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (4th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (ND 200 / State Highway 200): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (ND 31 / State Highway 31): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 205.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.7 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: at 0.3 miles (4th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (ND 200 / State Highway 200): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles (ND 31 / State Highway 31): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Valley City, 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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