Watford City to Horace is 376.5 miles and takes about 6h 22m via I 94 and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Dakota, traveling across the Great Plains. Most of your time will be spent on the interstate, offering a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, this route is ideal for a single-day transit.
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
188.3 miles from Watford City, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
303.5 mi
4h 51m
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
63.3 mi
1h 14m
CR 17
3.2 mi
5m
Sheyenne Street
3.1 mi
5m
Main Street North
2.3 mi
3m
United States Highway 85 Business
0.6 mi
<1m
Center Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 303.5 mi, about 4h 51m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~525 veh/hr typical
· worst 743
Quietest
3 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watford City, ND and Horace, ND.
1
Start on ND 23 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·Main Street North
2
Turn right onto US 85 Business; ND 23
0.6 mi·55 sec·United States Highway 85 Business
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 85; ND 200
63 mi·1 hr 14 min·Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
5
Merge onto I 94
303 mi·4 hr 51 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Sheyenne Street
7
Keep slight right at fork
316 ft·8 sec
Toward Sheyenne Street
8
Turn right onto Sheyenne Street
3.1 mi·5 min·Sheyenne Street
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
137 ft·3 sec·CR 17; CR 6
10
Continue on CR 17; CR 6
1.0 mi·1 min·CR 17; CR 6
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 17; CR 6
141 ft·3 sec·CR 17; CR 6
12
Continue on CR 17; CR 6
1.0 mi·1 min·CR 17; CR 6
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 17
144 ft·3 sec·CR 17
14
Continue on CR 17
1.1 mi·2 min·CR 17
15
Turn left onto Center Avenue
40 ft·1 sec·Center Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Center Avenue
Trip Plan
Plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight and complete the 6-hour drive. While the route is manageable in one day, consider an early afternoon departure if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The longest stretch without a major break is 303.5 miles on I 94, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. North Dakota's weather can change rapidly; keep an eye on the forecast, especially if traveling during shoulder seasons. Given the minimal road complexity, one stop is likely sufficient for a break and refreshments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.3 miles from Watford City, ND, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.5 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 83 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.3 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horace, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 376.5 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Watford 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 I 94 for about 303.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 370.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 85; ND 200 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
At end of road, turn left onto US 85; ND 200 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
369.9 mi into trip|~6h 10m in
Take the exit toward Sheyenne Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Sheyenne Street
6
370.2 mi into trip|~6h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Sheyenne Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Sheyenne Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.60 one way
$125.19 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$68.19
$136.37
premium
$5.18
$76.83
$153.65
diesel
$5.35
$79.30
$158.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113
1
$39.53
$18.07
Efficient EV
94.1
1
$32.94
$15.06
EV Truck/SUV
150.6
1
$52.71
$24.10
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Watford City, ND
Afternoon
in Watford City on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Cloudy
SW 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Horace, ND
Afternoon
in Horace on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 9 mph74% chanceLive forecast
58°F
Washburn, ND
188 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
11 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
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
National Park
When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamilia...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$30
near mile 51.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the 376.5 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 303.5 miles on I 94. The final segment will transition from the interstate to county roads, specifically CR 17, for the last few miles. Expect a consistent pace with minimal interruptions from traffic signals on the main highway portions.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near US 85; ND 200 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 22m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (US 85; ND 200 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 66.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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).
The longest stretch is about 303.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Horace, ND before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 2.9 miles (US 85; ND 200 / Theodore Roosevelt Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 66.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Theodore Roosevelt National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Horace, ND before the return drive.
