Spanning 246.6 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this route connects New Town to Jamestown in approximately 4 hours and 26 minutes. Because the drive is straightforward and highway-focused, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $37 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will primarily utilize US-83 S and I-94 to make your way across the state. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that serves as a reliable transit line between these two locations. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the trip is manageable for most drivers looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
123.3 miles from New Town, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
102.5 mi
1h 46m
I 94
47.8 mi
44m
US-83 S
26.1 mi
29m
247th Avenue Southwest
25.9 mi
29m
State Highway 23
18 mi
22m
39th Street Northwest
11.7 mi
13m
US Highway 83
9.1 mi
10m
State Street
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 102.5 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Town, ND and Jamestown, ND.
1
Start on this road
327 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
191 ft·13 sec·West Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
268 ft·13 sec·Eagle Drive
4
Turn right onto Central Avenue
371 ft·21 sec·Central Avenue
5
Turn left onto ND 23; ND 1804
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
6.5 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
7
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804
167 ft·2 sec·State Highway 23
8
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
10.0 mi·11 min·State Highway 23
9
Continue on ND 23
12 mi·13 min·39th Street Northwest
10
Continue on ND 23
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 23
11
Continue on ND 23
16 mi·18 min·247th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on ND 23
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 23
13
Continue on ND 23
9.9 mi·11 min·247th Avenue Southwest
14
Turn right onto US 83
9.1 mi·10 min·US Highway 83
15
Continue on US 83
26 mi·29 min·US-83 S
16
Continue on US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
3.9 mi·4 min·US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
17
Continue on US 83; ND 1804
49 mi·54 min·US 83; ND 1804
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804
2.4 mi·4 min·State Street
19
Turn left onto US 83
50 mi·47 min·US 83
Toward FargoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 94
48 mi·44 min·I 94
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Jamestown
22
Continue on 17th Street Southwest
0.8 mi·1 min·17th Street Southwest
23
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
0.7 mi·1 min·West Business Loop
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 52; US 281
63 ft·4 sec·US 52; US 281
25
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
0.8 mi·1 min·1st Avenue South
26
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 281
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, starting your engine early in the morning gives you the most flexibility to manage the 4-hour and 26-minute duration comfortably. You only need to plan for one major stop, which helps break up the monotony of the 246.6-mile trek. Given that the longest leg is over 100 miles, check your fuel gauge before starting the US-83 segment to ensure you aren't caught off guard in a remote stretch. Keep a steady pace once you merge onto I-94, as highway conditions can change quickly in the Great Plains. Using your single planned stop to stretch your legs will make the transition between US-83 and the interstate feel much smoother.
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 123.3 miles from New Town, ND, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.5 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamestown, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Town, 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 New Town, ND
This is one driving day of about 246.6 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from New Town, 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 83 for about 102.5 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 0.1 and 146.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Central Avenue
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Eagle Drive
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Central Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|ND 23; ND 1804 / Main Street
Turn left onto ND 23; ND 1804 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
146.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 83
Turn left onto US 83 toward Fargo
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Fargo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.55 one way
$77.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.33
$84.66
premium
$4.89
$47.46
$94.91
diesel
$5.61
$54.45
$108.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.58
$9.86
EV Truck/SUV
98.6
1
$34.52
$15.78
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
New Town, ND
Evening
in New Town on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jamestown, ND
Evening
in Jamestown on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Washburn, ND
123 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
1 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
4h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 weighted toward highway travel, with 83% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will face a significant stretch of 102.5 miles on US-83, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. The road character is consistent, favoring open, expansive highway driving that allows for steady progress. Transitioning from the regional roads onto I-94 changes the rhythm, shifting you from a two-lane highway experience to a more standard interstate pace. You should be prepared for a drive that prioritizes direct movement through the North Dakota landscape rather than frequent turns or technical maneuvers.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.5 mi on US 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and I 94. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Central Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Eagle Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,168 ft1,409 ft
Total Climb
764 ft
Total Descent
1,256 ft
Highest Point
2,168 ft
~123.3 mi in
Elevation Range
759 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 New Town, ND to Jamestown, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Fargo along the way.
Fargo
146.5 mi in|~2h 49m|via US 83
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 246.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 102.5 miles on US 83. 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 0.1 miles (West Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Eagle Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Jamestown, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
