Spanning 259.7 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this route from Valley City to Stanley is a straightforward journey typically taking about 5 hours and 2 minutes. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight split, though it requires steady focus behind the wheel. Budgeting approximately $39 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. You will spend the vast majority of your time on US-52, which serves as the primary artery connecting these two communities. This trip is best viewed as a practical, highway-focused transit through the heart of the state rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
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
129.8 miles from Valley City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US-52
80.6 mi
1h 33m
5th Street Northwest
41.6 mi
48m
United States Highway 52
41.5 mi
48m
US 2
40.7 mi
46m
I 94
30.2 mi
28m
US Highway 2
12.9 mi
16m
US-2 W
2 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US-52
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley City, ND and Stanley, 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
0.9 mi·1 min·1st Avenue South
10
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
42 mi·48 min·5th Street Northwest
11
Continue on US 52; US 281
0.4 mi·47 sec·4th Avenue South
12
Turn left onto 7th Street South
1.0 mi·2 min·7th Street South
13
Turn right onto 1605
0.9 mi·1 min·19th Avenue South
14
Turn left onto US 52; ND 200
23 mi·26 min·United States Highway 52
15
Turn right onto US 52
28 mi·32 min·US-52
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·21 sec·United State Highway 52
17
Continue on US 52; ND 3
11 mi·13 min·United States Highway 52
18
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·23 sec·1st Street
19
Continue on US 52
6.7 mi·7 min·US-52
20
Continue on US 52; ND 14
7.4 mi·8 min·United States Highway 52
21
Continue on US 52; ND 14
27 mi·31 min·US-52
22
Continue on US 52
0.8 mi·1 min·West Street
23
Continue on US 52
19 mi·22 min·US-52
24
Take the exit onto US 52
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 52
Toward US 2, US 52 W: Kenmare, Williston
25
Merge onto US 2; US 52
1.6 mi·2 min·US-2 W
26
Continue on US 2; US 52
2.7 mi·3 min·US Highway 2
27
Continue on US 2; US 52; US 83 Byp
0.3 mi·31 sec·US-2 W
28
Continue on US 2; US 52
10 mi·12 min·US Highway 2
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 2
41 mi·46 min·US 2
30
Turn right onto ND 8
0.5 mi·42 sec·State Highway 8
31
Continue on ND 8
0.5 mi·49 sec·6th Avenue Southeast
32
Turn right onto ND 8
0.3 mi·30 sec·Main Street
33
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue Southeast
51 ft·2 sec·2nd Avenue Southeast
34
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple since it only requires one deliberate stop to break up the five-hour duration. Because the route is highway-focused, try to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Stanley before sunset. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 80.6-mile stretch on US-52 to ensure you don't find yourself low on gas in between service points. Since you are staying entirely within the Great Plains region of North Dakota, the road conditions remain fairly predictable throughout the journey. Leverage the flexibility of a one-day trip by keeping your schedule open, allowing you to pull over safely whenever you need a quick rest.
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 129.8 miles from Valley City, ND, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 57 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.8 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stanley, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Valley City, 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 Valley City, ND
This is one driving day of about 259.7 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Valley City, 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-52 for about 80.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.5 and 202.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
32.5 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jamestown
4
35.2 mi into trip|~36m in|US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Turn left onto US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|7th Street South
Turn left onto 7th Street South
Navigation decision point
5
102.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|US 52 / US-52
Turn right onto US 52 / US-52
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
202.6 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 2, US 52 W: Kenmare, Williston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, US 52 W: Kenmare, Williston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.60 one way
$81.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.58
$89.16
premium
$4.89
$49.98
$99.95
diesel
$5.61
$57.34
$114.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.9
0
$27.27
$12.47
Efficient EV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
EV Truck/SUV
103.9
1
$36.36
$16.62
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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
Valley City, ND
Evening
in Valley City on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Stanley, ND
Evening
in Stanley on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Martin, ND
130 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
22 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
5h 2m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 81% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend most of your time navigating US-52, which provides a consistent pace across the open landscape. A highlight of the drive is the longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.6 miles on US-52, where you can settle into a steady rhythm without frequent turns. The character of the road is functional and direct, favoring efficiency over technical curves or complex intersections. By relying on main roads like 5th Street Northwest and US-52, you get a clear, uncomplicated path from start to finish.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on US-52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US-52 and 5th Street Northwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 77.2 miles (7th Street South): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Valley City, ND and Stanley, ND, road signs point toward Jamestown and Williston.
Jamestown
32.5 mi in|~32m
Williston
202.6 mi in|~3h 54m|via US 52
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 259.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on US-52. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 35.2 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 77.2 miles (7th Street South): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stanley, ND before the return drive.
