How far is Valley City, ND from Stanley, ND?

The driving distance from Valley City, ND to Stanley, ND is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 225.9 miles (363.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 05m 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
259.7 mi
05h 02m
Flight
225.84 mi
363.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Valley City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
225.84 mi
Kilometers
363.45 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
259.7 mi
Kilometers
417.94 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Stanley
Thu, Apr 23, 5:26 AM CDT
Return by in Valley City
Thu, Apr 23, 10:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Valley City
2026-04-23T00:23
Arrive Stanley
Thu, Apr 23, 5:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:03 AM to 1:03 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
6:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Valley City
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
Harvey
ND

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

From Valley City
129.6 mi
02h 31m
To Stanley
130.1 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Thursday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
21 to 33 mph SSW
Destination
53°F
Thursday

Light Rain

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 33 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Valley City and Stanley.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Valley City and Stanley.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward I 94 West

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    30.2 mi · 29 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward Jamestown

    1050 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Business Loop East

    1 km · 58 sec · Business Loop East

  6. 6

    Continue on 12th Avenue

    1013 ft · 17 sec · 12th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on 12th Avenue

    128 m · 7 sec · 12th Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on 10th Street Southeast

    1.1 km · 1 min · 10th Street Southeast

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

    1.5 km · 2 min · 1st Avenue South

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 5th Street Northwest

    41.6 mi · 48 min · 5th Street Northwest

  11. 11

    Continue on 4th Avenue South

    1906 ft · 48 sec · 4th Avenue South

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 7th Street South

    1.6 km · 2 min · 7th Street South

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 19th Avenue South

    1.4 km · 2 min · 19th Avenue South

  14. 14

    Turn left onto United States Highway 52

    23 mi · 27 min · United States Highway 52

  15. 15

    Turn right onto US-52

    28.1 mi · 32 min · US-52

  16. 16

    Continue on United State Highway 52

    1400 ft · 22 sec · United State Highway 52

  17. 17

    Continue on United States Highway 52

    11.1 mi · 13 min · United States Highway 52

  18. 18

    Continue on 1st Street

    1845 ft · 24 sec · 1st Street

  19. 19

    Continue on US-52

    6.7 mi · 8 min · US-52

  20. 20

    Continue on United States Highway 52

    7.4 mi · 9 min · United States Highway 52

  21. 21

    Continue on US-52

    27 mi · 31 min · US-52

  22. 22

    Continue on West Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Street

  23. 23

    Continue on US-52

    18.8 mi · 22 min · US-52

  24. 24

    Take the exit left toward US 2, US 52 W: Kenmare, Williston

    1044 ft · 29 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto US-2 W

    1.6 mi · 2 min · US-2 W

  26. 26

    Continue on US Highway 2

    2.7 mi · 4 min · US Highway 2

  27. 27

    Continue on US-2 W

    1823 ft · 31 sec · US-2 W

  28. 28

    Continue on US Highway 2

    10.3 mi · 12 min · US Highway 2

  29. 29

    Keep slight left

    40.7 mi · 46 min

  30. 30

    Turn right onto State Highway 8

    2530 ft · 43 sec · State Highway 8

  31. 31

    Continue on 6th Avenue Southeast

    2805 ft · 49 sec · 6th Avenue Southeast

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1695 ft · 31 sec · Main Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto 2nd Avenue Southeast

    15 m · 2 sec · 2nd Avenue Southeast

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 2nd Avenue Southeast

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Valley City and Stanley.

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US-52
80.6 mi · 31%
US Highway 2
53.6 mi · 21%
5th Street Northwest
41.6 mi · 16%
United States Highway 52
41.5 mi · 16%
I 94 West
30.6 mi · 12%
US-2 W
1.95 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

5th Street Northwest

Turn left onto 5th Street Northwest

41.6 mi · 00h 48m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.8 mi
225.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harvey
02h 31m from Valley City
Leave By
6:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Valley City and Light Rain near Stanley.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Valley City to Stanley?

The road trip is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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?

Harvey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.6 miles from Valley City and 130.1 miles from Stanley.

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

The direct path is about 225.9 miles (363.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.8 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 6:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.54 one way or $69.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Valley City and Light Rain near Stanley.

Stop Ideas Near Harvey

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

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

RAIL

Rugby station

67 mi away
201 West Dewey Street
RAIL

Devils Lake

89 mi away
Railroad Ave. and Third St.
BUS

Minot, ND

113 mi away
300 18th Avenue SW
RAIL

Minot station

114 mi away
400 1st Ave. S.W.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Valley City and Stanley. Straight-line distance: 225.84 mi (363.45 km).

Valley City

#1 Valley City

City in North Dakota

Population6,323
Coordinates46.9233100, -98.0031500
Altitude373
CountryUnited States
Stanley

#2 Stanley

City in North Dakota

Population2,708
Coordinates48.3172400, -102.3904500
Altitude684
CountryUnited States
Start: Valley City (-98.00315, 46.92331)
End: Stanley (-102.39045, 48.31724)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 418 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.16 gal
34.69 L · about $34.54
Round trip
$69.08
18.32 gal · 69.38 L
Estimated CO2
81.4 kg one way
Round trip: 162.8 kg / 359 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.54 $69.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.96 $77.91
Premium $4.65 $42.63 $85.26
Diesel $5.30 $48.58 $97.17

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Valley City and Stanley. The current time is 00:23:41.

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.