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

The driving distance from Watford City, ND to Lisbon, ND is about 364.1 miles (585.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 279.6 miles (449.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
364.05 mi
06h 16m
Flight
279.57 mi
449.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watford City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
279.57 mi
Kilometers
449.92 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
364.05 mi
Kilometers
585.88 km
Drive Time
06h 16m

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 06h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lisbon
Fri, May 1, 2:57 AM CDT
Return by in Watford City
Fri, May 1, 9:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watford City
2026-04-30T20:40
Arrive Lisbon
Fri, May 1, 2:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:17 PM to 1:47 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Watford City
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Bismarck
ND

The capital of North Dakota.

From Watford City
181.6 mi
03h 08m
To Lisbon
182.4 mi
03h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph NW
Destination
49°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street North

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Main Street North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto United States Highway 85 Business

    2905 ft · 55 sec · United States Highway 85 Business

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

    63.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

  4. 4

    Take the exit left

    1331 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    245.8 mi · 3 hr 56 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward ND 1 South: Verona, Oakes

    1182 ft · 16 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto State Highway 1

    19.4 mi · 23 min · State Highway 1

  8. 8

    Turn left onto State Highway 46

    19.1 mi · 22 min · State Highway 46

  9. 9

    Turn right onto State Highway 32

    12.5 mi · 15 min · State Highway 32

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Street

    2786 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 5th Avenue East

    21 m · 2 sec · 5th Avenue East

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 5th Avenue East

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
309 mi · 85%
State Highway 1
19.4 mi · 5%
State Highway 46
19.1 mi · 5%
State Highway 32
12.5 mi · 3%
Main Street North
2.35 mi · 1%
United States Highway 85 Business
0.55 mi
Longest Stretch

Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

Merge slight left

246 mi · 03h 56m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+84.5 mi
279.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bismarck
03h 08m from Watford City
Leave By
11:26 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Watford City and Partly Sunny near Lisbon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 364.1 miles (585.9 km) and usually takes 06h 16m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bismarck is a useful midpoint, sitting about 181.6 miles from Watford City and 182.4 miles from Lisbon.

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

The direct path is about 279.6 miles (449.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 84.5 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.46 one way or $96.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watford City and Lisbon. Straight-line distance: 279.57 mi (449.92 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
Lisbon

#2 Lisbon

City in North Dakota

Population2,015
Coordinates46.4416300, -97.6812100
Altitude330
CountryUnited States
Start: Watford City (-103.28325, 47.80224)
End: Lisbon (-97.68121, 46.44163)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 586 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.85 gal
48.63 L · about $48.46
Round trip
$96.91
25.7 gal · 97.26 L
Estimated CO2
114.2 kg one way
Round trip: 228.4 kg / 504 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $48.46 $96.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $54.65 $109.30
Premium $4.65 $59.80 $119.61
Diesel $5.30 $68.16 $136.31

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Watford City and Lisbon. The current time is 20:40:36.

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.