Miles to Go: The Tale of North Dakota’s Most Grueling Commute

Driving: It’s the topic that never seems to run out of gas. Whether it's debating the worst intersection in town, complaining about the abundance of potholes, or just griping about how long it takes to get from point A to point B, driving always manages to steer its way into conversations. And let’s face it, North Dakota is no stranger to long drives.

Recently, Stacker released an article identifying the counties with the worst commutes in North Dakota. Fortunately for those of us in Williams County, we’re not the worst, but we’re also not exactly cruising at the top of the list either. Our county landed at #38 out of the 52 counties in the state.

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So, what’s it like to drive in Williams County? On average, it takes 16.3 minutes to get to work, which isn't too bad. For those who are concerned about spending hours in traffic, only 3.7% of drivers here have commutes that stretch beyond an hour. And while most of us are loyal to our cars—85.6% of residents drive alone—there’s a small yet sturdy group of 7.8% who carpool. Public transportation isn't a major player here, clocking in at just 0.3%, but hey, we’ve got a solid 2.5% who prefer to stretch their legs and walk to work.

Things look a little different to the north of us, Divide County. With an average commute time of 16.5 minutes, they sit just above us at #37 on the list. But what’s really interesting is that 9.1% of drivers endure commutes over an hour, and 9.2% of folks work outside the county. While 78.3% of residents prefer driving solo, a noteworthy 6% choose to walk to work, and a surprising 11.5% work from home, sipping coffee in their pajamas instead of fighting traffic.

And then there’s Mountrail County, coming in at #19, where the average commute time is a slightly longer 19.1 minutes. A hefty 22.2% of residents work outside their county, and carpooling is more popular here, with 11.1% of people sharing the ride.

But if you’re looking for the ultimate test of patience behind the wheel, head over to Renville County (Mohall area), which takes the top (or perhaps bottom) spot at #1. With an average commute of 37.9 minutes and 20.9% of drivers facing over an hour on the road, it’s clear that Renville residents know a thing or two about long drives.

So, while our commutes in Williams County aren’t exactly award-winning, we can take comfort in knowing we’re not alone in our driving adventures. And the next time you hit a pothole or get stuck at that dreaded intersection, remember—at least you’re not driving in Renville County!