Mekinock to Watford City is 322.7 miles and takes about 6h 39m via Highway 2 East and US-2 W, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within North Dakota, crossing the Great Plains region. Expect a fairly direct route with a significant portion on main highways. Given the duration and distance, it's a manageable single-day trip, but planning your departure time is key to arriving comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.3 miles from Mekinock, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 2 East
81.1 mi
1h 48m
State Highway 23
63.9 mi
1h 15m
US-2 W
31 mi
35m
247th Avenue Southwest
25.9 mi
29m
18th Avenue
24.9 mi
28m
57th Street North
21.7 mi
24m
41st Street Northeast
20.6 mi
23m
US Highway 83
14.8 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Highway 2 East
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mekinock, ND and Watford City, ND.
1
Start on CR 3
5.3 mi·12 min·25th Street Northeast
2
Continue on CR 3
382 ft·12 sec·Highway B3
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward US 2 West: Devils Lake
4
Merge onto US 2
25 mi·28 min·18th Avenue
5
Continue on US 2; ND 32
5.5 mi·5 min·United States Highway 2
6
Continue on US 2
21 mi·23 min·41st Street Northeast
7
Continue on US 2
81 mi·1 hr 48 min·Highway 2 East
8
Continue on US 2
22 mi·23 min·US-2 W
9
Continue on US 2
6.1 mi·6 min·62nd Street Northeast
10
Continue on US 2
22 mi·24 min·57th Street North
11
Continue on US 2
4.0 mi·4 min·4th Avenue
12
Continue on US 2
9.4 mi·12 min·US-2 W
13
Continue on US 2; US 52
0.2 mi·21 sec·US Highway 2
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 83: Air Base, Bismarck
15
Keep slight left at fork
140 ft·5 sec
16
Turn left onto US 83
1.1 mi·2 min·South Broadway
17
Continue on US 83
0.1 mi·13 sec·US-83 S
18
Continue on US 83
15 mi·16 min·US Highway 83
19
Turn right onto ND 23
9.9 mi·11 min·247th Avenue Southwest
20
Continue on ND 23
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 23
21
Continue on ND 23
16 mi·18 min·247th Avenue Southwest
22
Continue on ND 23
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 23
23
Continue on ND 23
12 mi·13 min·39th Street Northwest
24
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
10.0 mi·11 min·State Highway 23
25
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804
166 ft·1 sec·State Highway 23
26
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
6.5 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
27
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
28
Continue on ND 23
21 mi·24 min·State Highway 23
29
Enter roundabout onto ND 23
311 ft·3 sec·State Highway 23
30
Continue on ND 23
12 mi·13 min·State Highway 23
31
Continue on ND 23
13 mi·15 min·State Highway 23
32
Turn right onto ND 23 Business; ND 1806
0.3 mi·27 sec·Highway 1806 West
Use the right lane.
33
Continue on ND 23 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·4th Avenue Northeast
34
Continue on ND 23 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·State Highway 23 Business
35
Continue on ND 23 Business
1.7 mi·4 min·4th Avenue Northeast
36
Turn left onto ND 23 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·Main Street North
37
Arrive at destination
ND 23 Business
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 39-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Mekinock to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can cover significant ground efficiently. The longest stretch without services is 81.1 miles on Highway 2 East, so ensure your fuel tank is adequate before starting this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $49, budgeting is straightforward for this single-day trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.3 miles from Mekinock, ND, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 71 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.3 miles or 3h 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 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watford City, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mekinock, 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 Mekinock, ND
This is one driving day of about 322.7 miles and 6h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Mekinock, 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 East for about 81.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Watford City, North Dakota
Hours: 9 am–9 pm
+17016905283
Nanny’s Coffee Shop & Bistro
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Parshall, North Dakota
Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 319.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.4 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward US 2 West: Devils Lake
Navigation decision point
Toward US 2 West: Devils Lake
6
200.9 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 83: Air Base, Bismarck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83: Air Base, Bismarck
5
201.2 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
217.2 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|ND 23 / 247th Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto ND 23 / 247th Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
5
319.3 mi into trip|~6h 31m in|ND 23 Business; ND 1806 / Highway 1806 West
Turn right onto ND 23 Business; ND 1806 / Highway 1806 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.66 one way
$95.31 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$52.61
$105.22
premium
$4.72
$59.92
$119.83
diesel
$4.80
$60.93
$121.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.8
1
$33.88
$15.49
Efficient EV
80.7
0
$28.24
$12.91
EV Truck/SUV
129.1
1
$45.18
$20.65
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Mekinock, ND
Evening
in Mekinock on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Watford City, ND
Evening
in Watford City on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 6 to 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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
6h 39m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 61% of this 322.7-mile route on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 81.1 miles on Highway 2 East. After the highway segments, you'll transition to state highways. Expect mostly rural cruising with limited exits.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on Highway 2 East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 2 East and State Highway 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 200.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,298 ft864 ft
Total Climb
1,862 ft
Total Descent
604 ft
Highest Point
2,298 ft
~299.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,434 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mekinock, ND to Watford City, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Bismarck along the way.
Watford City is a small town in the Badlands area of North Dakota. It had an estimated population of about 7,900 people in 2020. Elevation is 2,119 ft (646 m).
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on Highway 2 East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Watford City, ND before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 200.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Watford City, ND before the return drive.
