How far is Watford City, ND from Park River, ND?
The driving distance from Watford City, ND to Park River, ND is about 308.9 miles (497.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 259 miles (416.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in McHenry County, North Dakota
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Watford City and Park River.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watford City and Park River.
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1
Start on Main Street North
2216 ft · 1 min · Main Street North
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2
Turn left onto 6th Avenue Southeast
1.5 km · 1 min · 6th Avenue Southeast
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 23A
9 m · 1 sec · 12th Street Southeast
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4
Exit the rotary onto 12th Street Southeast
1.4 km · 2 min · 12th Street Southeast
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5
Turn left onto State Highway 23
15.7 mi · 19 min · State Highway 23
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward State Highway 23
82 m · 12 sec · State Highway 23
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7
Exit the rotary onto State Highway 23
12.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23
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8
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23
21 mi · 24 min · State Highway 23
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9
Continue on Main Street
2645 ft · 2 min · Main Street
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10
Continue on State Highway 23
6.5 mi · 9 min · State Highway 23
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11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 23
51 m · 2 sec · State Highway 23
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12
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 23
10 mi · 12 min · State Highway 23
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13
Continue on 39th Street Northwest
11.7 mi · 13 min · 39th Street Northwest
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14
Continue on State Highway 23
1570 ft · 20 sec · State Highway 23
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15
Continue on 247th Avenue Southwest
16 mi · 18 min · 247th Avenue Southwest
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16
Continue on State Highway 23
1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 23
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17
Continue on 247th Avenue Southwest
10.1 mi · 11 min · 247th Avenue Southwest
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18
Turn left onto US Highway 83
14.8 mi · 17 min · US Highway 83
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19
Continue on US-83 N
525 ft · 11 sec · US-83 N
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20
Continue on South Broadway
1.3 km · 2 min · South Broadway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward US 2, US 52: Devils Lake, Jamestown
1771 ft · 43 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto US Highway 2
1473 ft · 25 sec · US Highway 2
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23
Continue on US-2 E
9.4 mi · 12 min · US-2 E
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24
Continue on 4th Avenue
4 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue
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25
Continue on 57th Street North
21.7 mi · 25 min · 57th Street North
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26
Continue on 62nd Street Northeast
6.1 mi · 7 min · 62nd Street Northeast
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27
Continue on US-2 E
21.8 mi · 23 min · US-2 E
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28
Turn left onto 28th Avenue Northeast
1.1 mi · 3 min · 28th Avenue Northeast
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29
At the end of the road, turn right onto 66th Street Northeast
2034 ft · 56 sec · 66th Street Northeast
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30
Continue on 1st Street Northwest
1255 ft · 41 sec · 1st Street Northwest
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31
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 3
9.5 mi · 11 min · State Highway 3
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32
Turn right onto State Highway 17
38.2 mi · 45 min · State Highway 17
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33
Continue on 9th Street
3175 ft · 2 min · 9th Street
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34
Continue on State Highway 17
14.5 mi · 17 min · State Highway 17
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35
Turn right onto State Highway 20
5 mi · 6 min · State Highway 20
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36
Turn left onto State Highway 17
19.6 mi · 23 min · State Highway 17
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37
Continue on 5th Avenue
2412 ft · 1 min · 5th Avenue
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38
Continue on State Highway 17
31.7 mi · 37 min · State Highway 17
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39
Continue on Park Street West
1.1 mi · 3 min · Park Street West
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40
Turn left
42 m · 10 sec
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41
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Watford City and Park River.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
State Highway 17
Turn right onto State Highway 17
38.2 mi · 00h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Watford City and Mostly Sunny near Park River.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Watford City to Park River?
The road trip is about 308.9 miles (497.2 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?
Riga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.1 miles from Watford City and 154.8 miles from Park River.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 259 miles (416.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.9 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 $41.10 one way or $82.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Watford City and Mostly Sunny near Park River.
Stop Ideas Near Riga
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Riga.
Minot station
Minot, ND
Rugby station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Watford City and Park River. Straight-line distance: 258.96 mi (416.76 km).
#1 Watford City
City in McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States of America
| Population | 7,835 |
| Coordinates | 47.8022400, -103.2832500 |
| Altitude | 646 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Park River
City in Walsh County, North Dakota, United States
| Population | 1,305 |
| Coordinates | 48.3986000, -97.7412000 |
| Altitude | 303 |
| Country | United States |
End: Park River (-97.7412, 48.3986)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 497 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 51m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $41.10 | $82.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.36 | $92.72 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $50.73 | $101.46 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $57.81 | $115.63 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.