Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
19.9 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Raleigh, ND
Evgeniia Belman
Carson, ND
Philipp Schwarz
Raleigh, ND to Carson, ND is 19.9 miles and takes about 25 minutes via State Highway 21, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey keeps you within the Great Plains region, making it a straightforward hop between two North Dakota communities. You'll be spending almost all of your time on well-maintained state highways, so expect a smooth and efficient drive. Given the minimal distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a brief excursion between locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 21 | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 31 | 6 mi | 7m |
| 1st Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, ND and Carson, ND.
Start on Main Avenue
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto ND 31
At end of road, turn left onto ND 21
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 19.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto ND 31 / State Highway 31
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto ND 21 / State Highway 21
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.31 one way
$6.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.60 | $7.21 |
| premium | $5.18 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.27 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Afternoon in Raleigh on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Carson on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 drive is almost entirely highway-focused, with 96% of the route utilizing state highways. You'll primarily be on State Highway 21 and State Highway 31, with a brief section on 1st Avenue as you enter Carson. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 13.2 miles on State Highway 21, offering a consistent driving experience without frequent turns or significant changes in road type. Expect a straightforward and efficient journey with minimal distractions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 21 and State Highway 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 5 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 (1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (ND 31 / State Highway 31): Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles (ND 21 / State Highway 21): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
445 ft
Total Descent
209 ft
Highest Point
2,299 ft
~18.5 mi in
Elevation Range
257 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Park
Early in the drive, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1910
Carson is a town in Western North Dakota. It has a population of about 319 people and an area of 4 square miles. Altitude is 2,305 feet.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
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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