Watford City, ND Road Trips
Watford City, ND serves as a quiet starting point in the Great Plains, connecting drivers to 1 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 377 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Watford City, ND head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
376.5 mi
Horace, ND
Quickest Drive
4h 57m
Fort Totten, ND
Plan Around Watford City, ND
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Watford City, ND is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Watford City, ND
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Watford City, ND
Driving from Watford City, ND
The typical drive from Watford City, ND covers about 377 miles and takes around 6h 22m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 377 miles (6h 22m), while the shortest is just 377 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Watford City, ND are Horace, ND (376.5 mi, 6h 22m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in ND currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 377-mile trip from Watford City, ND, budget about $56 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 1 mapped routes leaving Watford City, ND and 4 routes heading into Watford City, ND, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 377 to 377 miles.
The longest mapped route from Watford City, ND covers 377 miles and takes approximately 6h 22m. Shorter options start at just 377 miles.
The average route from Watford City, ND runs about 377 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 22m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 377-mile trip from Watford City, ND costs roughly $56 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Watford City, ND include Horace, ND. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Watford City, ND at a Glance
Founded
1914
Elevation
2,119 ft
Area
1 mi²
Notable People from Watford City, ND
A sampling of people born in Watford City, ND.
Brent Sanford
1971
Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2023
City data from Wikidata (Q1998384), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Watford City, ND
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).
Watford City sits between the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt National Park and Lake Sakakawea.
1 McKenzie County Heritage Park, 950 2nd Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-444-2990. W 11AM-6PM, Th-Sa 10AM-6PM. Includes buildings from our MacKenzie County's history such as a trapper's cabin, country school, blacksmith shop, homestead shack, law office, church, barbershop and more. (updated Nov 2019) 2 Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County, 100 2nd Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-444-2990. Daily 10AM-5PM. Depicts the history and economic development of McKenzie County from the earliest times beginning with the largest petrified tree stump in North Dakota (60 million years old) to today's history. (updated Nov 2019)
1 Wild West Water Park, 315 3rd St SE, ☏ +1 701-444-7665. Great clean family fun all summer long. Two tower slides, children's water play area, hot tub, concessions. Available for rent for private parties. (updated Nov 2019) Fishing at Arnegard Dam, 1 1/2 miles north, 12 miles northwest of Watford City. Pike and perch.
Little Missouri Grille, 12622 23rd St NW, ☏ +1 701-444-6315. (updated Nov 2019) Tomate Mexican Grill, 722 Main St N, ☏ +1 310-351-8273. M-Sa 11:30AM-9PM. (updated Nov 2019) Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, 105 9th Ave SE, ☏ +1 701-842-3888. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-9PM. (updated Nov 2019)
JL Beers, 101 Main St N, ☏ +1 701-444-2015. Daily 11AM-midnight. (updated Nov 2019) Outlaws Bar & Grill, 120 Main St S, ☏ +1 701-842-6859. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Offers a full menu for Lunch and Dinner. (updated Nov 2019) Stonehome Brewing Co., 313 Fox Hills Parkway, ☏ +1 701-444-2337, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. (updated Nov 2019)
Comfort Inn & Suites, 600 3rd Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-842-6565. (updated Nov 2019) Little Missouri Inn & Suites, 109 9th Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-842-6262. (updated Nov 2019) Roosevelt Inn & Suites, 600 2nd Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-842-3686. (updated Nov 2019) Watford Hotel, 801 3rd Ave SW, ☏ +1 701-842-6800. (updated Nov 2019)
From Williston, about 26 miles south and 17 miles east on US highway 85. 1 Watford City Municipal Airport. General aviation. (updated Oct 2020)
Travel tips adapted from Watford City on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Watford City, ND
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