U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota

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U.S. Highway 85

CanAm Highway
Map
     US 85
Route information
Maintained by NDDOT
Length255.063 mi[1] (410.484 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
South end US 85 at the South Dakota state line
Major intersections
North end Hwy 35 at Canada–US border at Fortuna, ND
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
CountiesBowman, Slope, Stark, Billings, McKenzie, Williams, Divide
Highway system
  • North Dakota State Highway System
US 83 ND 89

U.S. Route 85 (US 85) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, north to the Canadian border in Fortuna, North Dakota. In the state of North Dakota, US 85 travels from the South Dakota state line north to the Canadian border.

Route description

US 85 enters North Dakota in the southwest part of the state. The first city on its route is Bowman at the junction of US 12. Continuing north, it passes between North Dakota's two highest points, White Butte and Black Butte. Near Amidon US 85 heads east for nine miles (14 km) before going back north along the Little Missouri National Grassland for about 125 miles (201 km). Near Belfield it junctions with Interstate 94 (I-94). After running concurrently with North Dakota Highway 200 (ND 200), it eventually passes through part of the scenic Badlands, crosses the Little Missouri River and passes near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit).

The Laurentian Divide along US 85, north of Williston

Then, at Watford City it travels west for 16 miles (26 km) where it turns back north before Alexander. US 85 continues north as ND 200 turns west toward Montana. South of Williston it crosses the Missouri River. The stretch from Watford City to Williston is in the process of being converted into an undivided four-lane highway, and it should be substantially completed in 2014. A few miles later, it meets with US 2 where the two overlap for 19 miles (31 km) as an expressway that bypasses Williston to the northwest. After US 2 heads east, US 85 continues north to a concurrency with ND 5. From there it is seven miles (11 km) to Fortuna where US 85 heads back north for its remaining six miles (9.7 km) to the Canadian border.[1]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Bowman0.0000.000
US 85 south – Buffalo, Belle Fourche
Continuation into South Dakota
Bowman16.46126.491
US 12 west – Rhame
Southern end of US 12 concurrency
17.26527.785
US 12 east – Hettinger
Northern end of US 12 concurrency
Slope50.09880.625
ND 21 east – New England
Western terminus of ND 21
Stark75.762121.927 I-94 – Bismarck, BillingsI-94 Exit 42
BillingsNo major intersections
McKenzie107.645173.238
ND 200 east – Killdeer
Southern end of ND 200 concurrency
Watford City140.831226.646


US 85 Bus. north / ND 23 east – Watford City, New Town
Southern terminus of US 85 Bus., western terminus of ND 23
145.659234.415

US 85 Bus. south – Watford City
Northern terminus of US 85 Bus.
159.344256.439
ND 68 west – Sidney
Eastern terminus of ND 68
Alexander160.505258.308

US 85 Bus. north – Alexander
Southern terminus of US 85 Bus.
163.506263.137

US 85 Bus. south – Alexander
Northern terminus of US 85 Bus.
164.424264.615
ND 200 west – Fairview, Sidney
Northern end of ND 200 concurrency
Williams183.743295.706

US 2 west / ND 1804 north – Bainville
Southern end of US 2 and ND 1804 concurrency
Williston186.747300.540


US 2 Bus. east / ND 1804 south
Northern end of ND 1804 concurrency, western terminus of US 2 Bus.
189.207304.499

US 2 Bus. west
Eastern terminus of US 2 Bus.
201.265323.905
US 2 east
Northern end of US 2 concurrency
216.995349.220 ND 50
Divide240.605387.216
ND 5 east – Crosby
Southern end of ND 5 concurrency
Fortuna248.670400.196
ND 5 west – Westby
Northern end of ND 5 concurrency
255.063410.484Canada–United States border at Fortuna–Oungre Border Crossing
Hwy 35 north – Weyburn, ReginaContinuation into Saskatchewan
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c North Dakota Department of Transportation (2014). North Dakota Route and Mileage Map (PDF) (Map). Bismarck: North Dakota Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

External links

U.S. Route 85
Previous state:
South Dakota
North Dakota Next state:
Terminus