Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
56.4 mi
91 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ray, ND
Owais Nazar
Buford, ND
Ali Ahmad DANESH
Ray to Buford is 56.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via 64th Street Northwest and State Highway 1804, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Dakota's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey between two points. You'll spend a good portion of the trip on highways, but it's a manageable distance for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for a simple, direct connection within this part of the state.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 64th Street Northwest | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| State Highway 1804 | 15.4 mi | 20m |
| Dakota Parkway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Theodore Roosevelt Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Railroad Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Score Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ray, ND and Buford, ND.
Start on 2nd Avenue East
Turn left onto Score Street
Turn right onto US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2; ND 1804
Turn left onto ND 1804
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Ray, 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.
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 41 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Score Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 2 / West Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto ND 1804 / State Highway 1804
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $10.21 | $20.43 |
| premium | $5.18 | $11.51 | $23.02 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.90 | $3.61 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Ray on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Buford on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Cloudy
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 offers a mixed driving experience, with 41% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 32.7 miles on 64th Street Northwest, which sets a steady pace early on. As you transition to State Highway 1804 and Dakota Parkway, expect varied road conditions that keep the drive from becoming monotonous. The profile suggests a blend of faster sections and potentially more local road segments as you approach your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Score Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ray, ND to Buford, ND is easy. At 1h 10m with 41% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Score Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 2 / West Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 41 miles (ND 1804 / State Highway 1804): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
604 ft
Total Descent
922 ft
Highest Point
2,407 ft
~4 mi in
Elevation Range
547 ft
Founded 1902
Tioga is the "Oil Capital of North Dakota" – a town of about 1,500 people in Western North Dakota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 56.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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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