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

The driving distance from Watford City, ND to Harding, ND is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 34.1 miles (54.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.46 mi
00h 51m
Flight
34.14 mi
54.94 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watford City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
34.14 mi
Kilometers
54.94 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.46 mi
Kilometers
65.12 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Harding
Fri, Nov 6, 5:48 PM MST
Return by in Watford City
Fri, Nov 6, 7:39 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watford City
2026-11-06T17:56
Arrive Harding
Fri, Nov 6, 6:48 PM CST
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
7:52 AM to 9:52 AM MST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:46 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Watford City
9:30 PM CST
Morning start is best

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
Alexander
ND

City in McKenzie County, North Dakota

From Watford City
20.2 mi
00h 25m
To Harding
20.3 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Friday

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
6 to 15 mph W
Destination
55°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 5:00 AM MST
Wind
5 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street North

    1065 ft · 41 sec · Main Street North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 2nd Avenue Southwest

    3.5 mi · 5 min · 2nd Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

    18.7 mi · 22 min · Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto State Highway 200

    17.2 mi · 20 min · State Highway 200

  5. 5

    Turn left

    3274 ft · 2 min

  6. 6

    Turn right

    841 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
7 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
18.7 mi · 46%
State Highway 200
17.2 mi · 43%
2nd Avenue Southwest
3.52 mi · 9%
Main Street North
0.2 mi
Longest Stretch

Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

Turn right onto Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

18.7 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.4 mi
34.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Alexander
00h 25m from Watford City
Leave By
4:46 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Watford City and Sunny near Harding.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km) and usually takes 00h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Alexander is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.2 miles from Watford City and 20.3 miles from Harding.

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

The direct path is about 34.1 miles (54.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:46 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.66 one way or $11.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Watford City and Sunny near Harding.

Stop Ideas Near Alexander

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

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

RAIL

Williston

33 mi away
1 South Main Street
BUS

Sidney, MT

42 mi away
1201 West Holly Street
RAIL

Stanley

107 mi away
Main Street & Railroad Avenue
BUS

Glendive, MT

116 mi away
1302 West Towne Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watford City and Harding. Straight-line distance: 34.14 mi (54.94 km).

Watford City

#1 Watford City

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

Population7,835
Coordinates47.8022400, -103.2832500
Altitude646
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Harding

Township in Ramsey County, North Dakota

Population32
Coordinates47.8533500, -104.0152100
Altitude578
CountryUnited States
Start: Watford City (-103.28325, 47.80224)
End: Harding (-104.01521, 47.85335)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.43 gal
5.4 L · about $5.66
Round trip
$11.33
2.86 gal · 10.8 L
Estimated CO2
12.7 kg one way
Round trip: 25.4 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $5.66 $11.33
Mid-grade $4.41 $6.30 $12.61
Premium $4.88 $6.97 $13.94
Diesel $6.04 $8.63 $17.26

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 · Nov 06, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Watford City, ND and Harding, ND. The current time in Watford City is 17:56:18, although it is 16:56:18 in Harding.

Distance to Other Cities

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