Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
233.7 mi
376 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watford City, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Belcourt, ND
Wolfgang Weiser
Watford City to Belcourt is 233.7 miles and takes about 4 hours 39 minutes via State Highway 23, US-2 E, and State Highway 3, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Dakota, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. You'll find this route to be a straightforward drive, primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Plan for a relatively uncomplicated journey with minimal navigational challenges.
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
116.8 miles from Watford City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 23 | 66.8 mi | 1h 19m |
| US-2 E | 31.2 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 3 | 30.7 mi | 35m |
| 247th Avenue Southwest | 26.1 mi | 29m |
| 57th Street North | 21.7 mi | 24m |
| US Highway 83 | 14.8 mi | 16m |
| US 281 | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| 39th Street Northwest | 11.7 mi | 13m |
Step-by-step road directions between Watford City, ND and Belcourt, ND.
Start on ND 23 Business
Turn left onto ND 23A
Enter roundabout onto 12th Street Southeast
Continue on 12th Street Southeast
Turn left onto ND 23
Enter roundabout onto ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Continue on ND 23
Turn left onto US 83
Continue on US 83
Continue on US 83
Take the exit
Merge onto US 2; US 52
Continue on US 2; US 52
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2; ND 14
Turn left onto 28th Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto 66th Street Northeast
Continue on 1st Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto ND 3
At end of road, turn right onto US 281; ND 5
Continue on US 281; ND 5
Continue on US 281; ND 5
Turn right onto BIA 7
Arrive at destination
Starting your drive from Watford City in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight for the 4 hour 39 minute trip. With a total distance of 233.7 miles, you can comfortably complete this route in a single day. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, so ensure your tank is full before departing, as there's only one recommended stop. The longest stretch without a major turn is 66.8 miles on State Highway 23, so plan your breaks accordingly to avoid fatigue during this section.
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.
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 51 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.8 miles or 2h 19m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belcourt, ND than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Watford 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 Watford City, ND
This is one driving day of about 233.7 miles and 4h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116.8 miles from Watford City, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Highway 23 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 123 and 233.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 2, US 52: Devils Lake, Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto 66th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto ND 3 / State Highway 3
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto US 281; ND 5
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto BIA 7 / 44th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$36.23 one way
$72.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $39.73 | $79.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $45.34 | $90.68 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $51.52 | $103.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.1 | 0 | $24.54 | $11.22 |
| Efficient EV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.45 | $9.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.5 | 1 | $32.72 | $14.96 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Watford City on Wednesday
Local time
2:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Belcourt on Wednesday
Local time
2:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
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
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
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 68% of the 233.7 miles on paved roads like State Highway 23 and US-2 E. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 66.8 miles on State Highway 23, offering extended periods of rural cruising. The transition from highway to more local roads will occur gradually as you approach your destination. Expect straightforward driving conditions with limited urban merging or complex intersections.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 23 and US-2 E. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 123 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 123 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.7 miles (66th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 188.4 miles (ND 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
992 ft
Total Descent
1,150 ft
Highest Point
2,369 ft
~33.4 mi in
Elevation Range
878 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Watford City, ND to Belcourt, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
Jamestown
Founded 1914
Watford City is a small town in the Badlands area of North Dakota. It had an estimated population of about 7,900 people in 2020. Elevation is 2,119 ft (646 m).
Founded 1884
Belcourt is a town in the Turtle Mountains area of North Dakota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 233.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Watford City, ND or browse trips ending in Belcourt, ND.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ND road trips.
