How far is Dickinson, ND from Thompson, ND?

The driving distance from Dickinson, ND to Thompson, ND is about 342.7 miles (551.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 273 miles (439.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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
342.72 mi
05h 46m
Flight
273.02 mi
439.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dickinson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
273.02 mi
Kilometers
439.38 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
342.72 mi
Kilometers
551.56 km
Drive Time
05h 46m

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 05h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Thompson
Sun, Apr 19, 11:36 AM CDT
Return by in Dickinson
Sun, Apr 19, 4:22 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dickinson
2026-04-19T04:50
Arrive Thompson
Sun, Apr 19, 10:36 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:46 PM to 2:46 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
5:28 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dickinson
9:00 PM MDT
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
Medina
ND

City in North Dakota, United States

From Dickinson
171 mi
02h 53m
To Thompson
171.7 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph S
Destination
45°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dickinson and Thompson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dickinson and Thompson.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    24 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    15 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Villard Street

    42 m · 6 sec · West Villard Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 3rd Avenue West

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 3rd Avenue West

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    1476 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    266.7 mi · 4 hr 15 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Lynchburg

    1330 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto 153rd Avenue Southeast

    2.1 mi · 5 min · 153rd Avenue Southeast

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 35th Street Southeast

    2 mi · 2 min · 35th Street Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on 5th Street North

    603 ft · 22 sec · 5th Street North

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 18

    13.4 mi · 16 min · State Highway 18

  12. 12

    Continue on Main Street

    1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on State Highway 18

    5.6 mi · 7 min · State Highway 18

  14. 14

    Continue on Main Street

    1461 ft · 50 sec · Main Street

  15. 15

    Continue on State Highway 18

    11 mi · 13 min · State Highway 18

  16. 16

    Turn right onto State Highway 200 Alternate

    8 mi · 10 min · State Highway 200 Alternate

  17. 17

    Take the ramp left toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Grand Forks

    1167 ft · 29 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    29.2 mi · 27 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward ND 15 West, CR 81A East: Thompson

    1378 ft · 40 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto State Highway 15

    1.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 15

  21. 21

    Continue on Broadway Street

    2600 ft · 1 min · Broadway Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dickinson and Thompson.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
3rd Avenue West
268 mi · 78%
State Highway 18
30 mi · 9%
I 29 North
29.4 mi · 9%
State Highway 200 Alternate
8.04 mi · 2%
153rd Avenue Southeast
2.1 mi · 1%
35th Street Southeast
2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

3rd Avenue West

Merge slight left

267 mi · 04h 15m

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
05h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.7 mi
273 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Medina
02h 53m from Dickinson
Leave By
5:28 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dickinson and Sunny near Thompson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dickinson to Thompson?

The road trip is about 342.7 miles (551.6 km) and usually takes 05h 46m 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?

Medina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171 miles from Dickinson and 171.7 miles from Thompson.

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

The direct path is about 273 miles (439.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.7 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 MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:28 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.59 one way or $91.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Dickinson and Thompson, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dickinson and Sunny near Thompson.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dickinson and Thompson. Straight-line distance: 273.02 mi (439.38 km).

Dickinson

#1 Dickinson

City in North Dakota

Population23,527
Coordinates46.8791800, -102.7896200
Altitude735
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Thompson

City in North Dakota, United States

Population1,027
Coordinates47.7735900, -97.1098000
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Start: Dickinson (-102.78962, 46.87918)
End: Thompson (-97.1098, 47.77359)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 552 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.09 gal
45.78 L · about $45.59
Round trip
$91.18
24.18 gal · 91.56 L
Estimated CO2
107.4 kg one way
Round trip: 214.9 kg / 474 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.59 $91.18
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.42 $102.84
Premium $4.65 $56.27 $112.53
Diesel $5.30 $64.13 $128.25

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 · Apr 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Dickinson, ND and Thompson, ND. The current time in Dickinson is 04:50:24, although it is 05:50:24 in Thompson.

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.