How far is Rugby, ND from Watford City, ND?

The driving distance from Rugby, ND to Watford City, ND is about 186.7 miles (300.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.6 miles (252.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m 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
186.68 mi
03h 13m
Flight
156.67 mi
252.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rugby.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.67 mi
Kilometers
252.14 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
186.68 mi
Kilometers
300.44 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 03h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watford City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:13 AM CDT
Return by in Rugby
Sun, Apr 19, 10:26 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rugby
2026-04-19T04:00
Arrive Watford City
Sun, Apr 19, 7:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rugby
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
Ryder
ND

Human settlement in Ward County, North Dakota, United States of America

From Rugby
93.3 mi
01h 36m
To Watford City
93.4 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph S
Destination
58°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rugby and Watford City.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Avenue

    2889 ft · 1 min · South Main Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 10th Street Southwest

    668 ft · 24 sec · 10th Street Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southwest

    2133 ft · 49 sec · 3rd Avenue Southwest

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 65th Street Northeast

    1.2 mi · 1 min · 65th Street Northeast

  5. 5

    Continue on US-2 W

    21.5 mi · 23 min · US-2 W

  6. 6

    Continue on 62nd Street Northeast

    6.1 mi · 7 min · 62nd Street Northeast

  7. 7

    Continue on 57th Street North

    21.7 mi · 25 min · 57th Street North

  8. 8

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    4 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on US-2 W

    9.4 mi · 12 min · US-2 W

  10. 10

    Continue on US Highway 2

    1281 ft · 22 sec · US Highway 2

  11. 11

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

    1395 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    43 m · 5 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Broadway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Broadway

  14. 14

    Continue on US-83 S

    646 ft · 14 sec · US-83 S

  15. 15

    Continue on US Highway 83

    14.8 mi · 17 min · US Highway 83

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 247th Avenue Southwest

    9.9 mi · 11 min · 247th Avenue Southwest

  17. 17

    Continue on State Highway 23

    1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 23

  18. 18

    Continue on 247th Avenue Southwest

    16 mi · 18 min · 247th Avenue Southwest

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 23

    1570 ft · 20 sec · State Highway 23

  20. 20

    Continue on 39th Street Northwest

    11.7 mi · 13 min · 39th Street Northwest

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 23

    10 mi · 12 min · State Highway 23

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 23

    51 m · 2 sec · State Highway 23

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23

    6.5 mi · 9 min · State Highway 23

  24. 24

    Continue on Main Street

    2645 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  25. 25

    Continue on State Highway 23

    21 mi · 24 min · State Highway 23

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward State Highway 23

    95 m · 4 sec · State Highway 23

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23

    12.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23

  28. 28

    Exit the rotary onto State Highway 23

    12.8 mi · 15 min · State Highway 23

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Highway 1806 West

    1364 ft · 28 sec · Highway 1806 West

  30. 30

    Continue on 4th Avenue Northeast

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 4th Avenue Northeast

  31. 31

    Continue on State Highway 23 Business

    1237 ft · 32 sec · State Highway 23 Business

  32. 32

    Continue on 4th Avenue Northeast

    1.7 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue Northeast

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Main Street North

    904 ft · 31 sec · Main Street North

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street North

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rugby 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
34 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 23
63.9 mi · 34%
US-2 W
31 mi · 17%
247th Avenue Southwest
25.9 mi · 14%
57th Street North
21.7 mi · 12%
US Highway 83
14.8 mi · 8%
39th Street Northwest
11.7 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

57th Street North

Continue on 57th Street North

21.7 mi · 00h 25m

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
03h 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.1 mi
156.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ryder
01h 36m from Rugby
Leave By
10:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rugby and Mostly Sunny near Watford City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rugby to Watford City?

The road trip is about 186.7 miles (300.4 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Ryder is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.3 miles from Rugby and 93.4 miles from Watford City.

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

The direct path is about 156.6 miles (252.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.1 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 10:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.85 one way or $49.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rugby and Mostly Sunny near Watford City.

Stop Ideas Near Ryder

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ryder, 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 Ryder.

BUS

Minot, ND

44 mi away
300 18th Avenue SW
RAIL

Minot station

45 mi away
400 1st Ave. S.W.
RAIL

Stanley

69 mi away
Main Street & Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rugby and Watford City. Straight-line distance: 156.67 mi (252.14 km).

Rugby

#1 Rugby

City North Dakota, US

Population2,566
Coordinates48.3688900, -99.9962500
Altitude472
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: South Main Avenue (-99.996121, 48.36889)
End: Main Street North (-103.283174, 47.80224)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 300 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.59 gal
24.94 L · about $24.85
Round trip
$49.70
13.18 gal · 49.88 L
Estimated CO2
58.6 kg one way
Round trip: 117.1 kg / 258 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.85 $49.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.03 $56.05
Premium $4.65 $30.67 $61.34
Diesel $5.30 $34.95 $69.91

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

There is no time difference between Rugby and Watford City. The current time is 04:00:27.

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.