How far is Devils Lake, ND from Watford City, ND?

The driving distance from Devils Lake, ND to Watford City, ND is about 243 miles (391.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 205.5 miles (330.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
243 mi
04h 01m
Flight
205.52 mi
330.76 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Devils Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
205.52 mi
Kilometers
330.76 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
243 mi
Kilometers
391.07 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watford City
Thu, May 7, 12:35 AM CDT
Return by in Devils Lake
Thu, May 7, 4:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Devils Lake
2026-05-06T20:33
Arrive Watford City
Thu, May 7, 12:35 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Devils Lake
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Minot
ND

The most populous city in Ward County, North Dakota.

From Devils Lake
121.4 mi
02h 00m
To Watford City
121.5 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
28°F
Tonight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, May 6 7:00 PM CDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph SSE
Destination
54°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 6 5:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Devils Lake and Watford City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Devils Lake and Watford City.

  1. 1

    Start on College Drive North

    111 m · 15 sec · College Drive North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 4th Street Northwest

    1564 ft · 44 sec · 4th Street Northwest

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Highway 2 West

    58.3 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Highway 2 West

  4. 4

    Continue on US-2 W

    21.5 mi · 23 min · US-2 W

  5. 5

    Continue on 62nd Street Northeast

    6.1 mi · 7 min · 62nd Street Northeast

  6. 6

    Continue on 57th Street North

    21.7 mi · 25 min · 57th Street North

  7. 7

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    4 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on US-2 W

    9.4 mi · 12 min · US-2 W

  9. 9

    Continue on US Highway 2

    1281 ft · 22 sec · US Highway 2

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 83: Air Base, Bismarck

    1395 ft · 34 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    43 m · 5 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Broadway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Broadway

  13. 13

    Continue on US-83 S

    646 ft · 14 sec · US-83 S

  14. 14

    Continue on US Highway 83

    14.8 mi · 17 min · US Highway 83

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 247th Avenue Southwest

    9.9 mi · 11 min · 247th Avenue Southwest

  16. 16

    Continue on State Highway 23

    1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 23

  17. 17

    Continue on 247th Avenue Southwest

    16 mi · 18 min · 247th Avenue Southwest

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 23

    1570 ft · 20 sec · State Highway 23

  19. 19

    Continue on 39th Street Northwest

    11.7 mi · 13 min · 39th Street Northwest

  20. 20

    Continue on State Highway 23

    10 mi · 12 min · State Highway 23

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 23

    51 m · 2 sec · State Highway 23

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23

    6.5 mi · 9 min · State Highway 23

  23. 23

    Continue on Main Street

    2645 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  24. 24

    Continue on State Highway 23

    21 mi · 24 min · State Highway 23

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward State Highway 23

    95 m · 4 sec · State Highway 23

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23

    12.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23

  27. 27

    Exit the rotary onto State Highway 23

    12.8 mi · 15 min · State Highway 23

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Highway 1806 West

    1364 ft · 28 sec · Highway 1806 West

  29. 29

    Continue on 4th Avenue Northeast

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 4th Avenue Northeast

  30. 30

    Continue on State Highway 23 Business

    1237 ft · 32 sec · State Highway 23 Business

  31. 31

    Continue on 4th Avenue Northeast

    1.7 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue Northeast

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Main Street North

    904 ft · 31 sec · Main Street North

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street North

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Devils Lake and Watford City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
33 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 23
63.9 mi · 26%
Highway 2 West
58.3 mi · 24%
US-2 W
31 mi · 13%
247th Avenue Southwest
25.9 mi · 11%
57th Street North
21.7 mi · 9%
US Highway 83
14.8 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Highway 2 West

Turn right onto Highway 2 West

58.3 mi · 01h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.5 mi
205.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Minot
02h 00m from Devils Lake
Leave By
8:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Devils Lake and Sunny near Watford City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Devils Lake to Watford City?

The road trip is about 243 miles (391.1 km) and usually takes 04h 01m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Minot is a useful midpoint, sitting about 121.4 miles from Devils Lake and 121.5 miles from Watford City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 205.5 miles (330.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.36 one way or $64.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Devils Lake and Sunny near Watford City.

Stop Ideas Near Minot

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Minot, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Minot.

RAIL

Minot station

400 1st Ave. S.W.
BUS

Minot, ND

2 mi away
300 18th Avenue SW
RAIL

Stanley

82 mi away
Main Street & Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Rugby station

97 mi away
201 West Dewey Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Devils Lake and Watford City. Straight-line distance: 205.52 mi (330.76 km).

Devils Lake

#1 Devils Lake

City in North Dakota, United States of America

Population7,229
Coordinates48.1127800, -98.8651200
Altitude441
CountryUnited States
Watford City

#2 Watford City

City in McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States of America

Population7,835
Coordinates47.8022400, -103.2832500
Altitude646
CountryUnited States
Start: College Drive North (-98.865208, 48.112779)
End: Main Street North (-103.283174, 47.80224)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 391 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.58 gal
32.46 L · about $32.36
Round trip
$64.71
17.16 gal · 64.92 L
Estimated CO2
76.3 kg one way
Round trip: 152.5 kg / 336 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.36 $64.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.49 $72.98
Premium $4.65 $39.93 $79.86
Diesel $5.30 $45.51 $91.02

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Dakota · May 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Devils Lake and Watford City. The current time is 20:33:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.