West Fargo to New Town is 333.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m via I 94 and US 83, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within North Dakota, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
166.6 miles from West Fargo, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
183.7 mi
2h 54m
State Street
51.2 mi
58m
US 83
39.4 mi
44m
State Highway 23
18 mi
22m
247th Avenue Southwest
16 mi
18m
39th Street Northwest
11.7 mi
13m
247th Avenue Southeast
10.1 mi
11m
Main Avenue West
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 183.7 mi, about 2h 54m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~598 veh/hr typical
· worst 844
Quietest
4 AM
~73 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 West Fargo, ND and New Town, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue West
126 ft·11 sec·2nd Avenue West
2
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·1st Street
3
Turn left onto I 94 Business; US 10
1.9 mi·2 min·Main Avenue West
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·I 94 Business
5
Merge onto I 94; US 52
176 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 94; US 52
6
Continue on I 94; US 83
8.2 mi·8 min·I 94; US 83
7
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·43 sec·US 83
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
8
Turn right onto US 83; ND 1804
2.1 mi·3 min·State Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804
49 mi·54 min·State Street
10
Continue on US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
4.0 mi·4 min·US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
11
Continue on US 83; ND 1804
35 mi·39 min·US 83; ND 1804
12
Turn left onto ND 23
10 mi·11 min·247th Avenue Southeast
13
Continue on ND 23
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 23
14
Continue on ND 23
16 mi·18 min·247th Avenue Southwest
15
Continue on ND 23
0.3 mi·20 sec·State Highway 23
16
Continue on ND 23
12 mi·13 min·39th Street Northwest
17
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
10.0 mi·11 min·State Highway 23
18
Enter roundabout onto ND 23; ND 1804
166 ft·1 sec·State Highway 23
19
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
6.5 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
20
Continue on ND 23; ND 1804
0.2 mi·40 sec·Main Street
21
Turn right onto Central Avenue
371 ft·21 sec·Central Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto Eagle Drive
268 ft·13 sec·Eagle Drive
23
Turn right onto West Central Avenue
191 ft·13 sec·West Central Avenue
24
Turn left
327 ft·24 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 49m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning from West Fargo will allow you to reach New Town with plenty of daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $59, so be sure to check current prices before you depart. While there's only one recommended stop, the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 183 miles on I 94; plan accordingly for fuel and rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 94 to US 83, as services may be less frequent on the latter part of the route.
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 166.6 miles from West Fargo, ND, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183.7 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 73 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.6 miles or 2h 40m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Town, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Fargo, 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 West Fargo, ND
This is one driving day of about 333.2 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from West Fargo, 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 183.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 333.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 94 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
186.4 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
5
333.1 mi into trip|~5h 49m in|Eagle Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Eagle Drive
Navigation decision point
5
333.1 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.40 one way
$110.80 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$60.34
$120.69
premium
$5.18
$67.99
$135.98
diesel
$5.35
$70.18
$140.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100
1
$34.99
$15.99
Efficient EV
83.3
0
$29.16
$13.33
EV Truck/SUV
133.3
1
$46.65
$21.32
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 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 2, 2026
Origin
West Fargo, ND
Afternoon
in West Fargo on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 22 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 10:03AM MDT by NWS Bismarck ND
Destination
New Town, ND
Afternoon
in New Town on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 1 to 12 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 10:03AM MDT by NWS Bismarck ND
58°F
Washburn, ND
167 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 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 49m 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?
This trip is primarily highway driving, with 73% of the route on major roads like I 94 and US 83. You'll encounter a long stretch of 183.7 miles on I 94, which means extended periods of cruising. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to surface roads, including State Street and US 83, for the remainder of the drive. Expect more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 183.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
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 49m 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: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 186.4 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,108 ft897 ft
Total Climb
1,231 ft
Total Descent
226 ft
Highest Point
2,108 ft
~285.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,211 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Fargo, ND to New Town, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Minot along the way.
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.
New Town is a city in Western North Dakota. It is situated on the shore of Lake Sakakawea and on the north end of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. It is a popular destination for tourists, mostly from within the state, who visit for fishing, boating, and gambling. The city became well known after the oil boom around 2006. As a result, many people came to the town for work, and there was a rapid development of trailers and vinyl houses. The town is a common jumping-off point for hunting and fishing.
The longest stretch is about 183.7 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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 16 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: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 186.4 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Town, ND before the return drive.
