Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
34.5 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Fargo, ND
cole peters
Buffalo, ND
Utkarsh Shukla
West Fargo, ND to Buffalo, ND is 34.5 miles and takes about 36m via I 94 and State Highway 38, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Great Plains region of North Dakota, offering a straightforward drive for those looking to cover a small distance efficiently. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick relocation or a simple point-to-point trip without extensive planning. You'll find it to be a very manageable drive, suitable for any day of the week.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 28.3 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 38 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Main Avenue West | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 94 Business | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Fargo, ND and Buffalo, ND.
Start on 2nd Avenue West
Turn left onto 1st Street
Turn left onto I 94 Business; US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
Merge onto I 94; US 52
Take the exit
Turn right onto ND 38
Turn right onto CR 10
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward ND 38 North: Buffalo, Alice
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto ND 38 / State Highway 38
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto CR 10 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.65 one way
$11.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $6.28 | $12.57 |
| premium | $5.10 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
| diesel | $6.06 | $8.23 | $16.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in West Fargo on Sunday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Rain Showers
Destination
Night in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Chance Rain Showers
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 is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the trip on major roads like I 94. You'll experience a longest stretch of 28.3 miles on I 94, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur towards the end of your trip. Expect a rural cruising feel for most of the drive, with fewer exits and more open stretches.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 38. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 36m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
310 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
1,206 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
310 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Fargo, ND to Buffalo, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Alice along the way.
Alice
Founded 1926
West Fargo is a suburb in the Fargo/Moorhead metropolitan area. The city features a multitude of shopping and dining opportunities, as well as a number of lodging options. West Fargo's population exploded from fewer than 15,000 to more than 20,000 between 1990 and 2000, and continues to increase rapidly as Fargo and Moorhead to drive the growth of the entire metropolitan area.
Buffalo is a small town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota between Fargo and Valley City. It has a population of about 209 people.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 34.5 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 (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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