Origin
Valley City, ND
Night in Valley City on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley City, ND to Jamestown, ND
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
35.1 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley City, ND
Isabelli Pontes
Jamestown, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the North Dakota Great Plains, the 35.1-mile connection between Valley City and Jamestown is an ideal choice. You can complete this trip in roughly 36 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical route that requires no overnight stops. Navigating primarily via I-94, you will find the journey efficient and predictable. Whether you are commuting or simply exploring the region, this drive offers a no-fuss experience that gets you from point A to point B with minimal effort.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 30.2 mi | 28m |
| West Main Street | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 10th Street Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Business Loop East | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| I 94 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 12th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 30.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Jamestown, ND.
1
Start on I 94 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
2
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 94 Business
Toward I 94 West
3
Merge onto I 94; US 52
30 mi
·
28 min
·
I 94; US 52
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Jamestown
5
Turn left onto Business Loop East
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Business Loop East
6
Continue on 12th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
12th Avenue
7
Continue on 12th Avenue
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
12th Avenue
8
Continue on 10th Street Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street Southeast
9
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
10
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 281
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94 Business
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business toward I 94 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 94 West
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 94; US 52
Merge onto I 94; US 52
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
32.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jamestown
3
32.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Business Loop East
Turn left onto Business Loop East
Navigation decision point
3
34.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 52; US 281 / 1st Avenue South
Turn right onto US 52; US 281 / 1st Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.75 | $13.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Jamestown, ND
Night in Jamestown on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
36m 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 highly efficient, highway-focused experience as you traverse the flat landscapes of the region. Approximately 87% of your travel time will be spent on the interstate, providing a consistent pace for the duration of the trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 30.2 miles on I-94, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. As you transition off the interstate, you will conclude your journey by navigating local roads like West Main Street and 1st Avenue South. The road is straightforward and functional, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding scenic detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 94 Business.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Valley City, ND to Jamestown, ND is easy. At 36m with 87% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 94; US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 1.9 miles (I 94 Business): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 94; US 52): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jamestown, ND before heading back.
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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