# U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota

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).
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.

## History

In October 2024, US 85 from Interstate 94 to the Watford City bypass became four lanes.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Bowman | ​ | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 85 south – Buffalo, Belle Fourche | Continuation into South Dakota |
| Bowman | Bowman | 16.461 | 26.491 | US 12 west – Rhame | Southern end of US 12 concurrency |
| Bowman | Bowman | 17.265 | 27.785 | US 12 east – Hettinger | Northern end of US 12 concurrency |
| Slope | ​ | 50.098 | 80.625 | ND 21 east – New England | Western terminus of ND 21 |
| Stark | ​ | 75.762 | 121.927 | I-94 – Bismarck, Billings | I-94 Exit 42 |
| Billings | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| McKenzie | ​ | 107.645 | 173.238 | ND 200 east – Killdeer | Southern end of ND 200 concurrency |
| McKenzie | Watford City | 140.831 | 226.646 | US 85 Bus. north / ND 23 east – Watford City, New Town | Southern terminus of US 85 Bus., western terminus of ND 23 |
| McKenzie | ​ | 145.659 | 234.415 | US 85 Bus. south – Watford City | Northern terminus of US 85 Bus. |
| McKenzie | ​ | 159.344 | 256.439 | ND 68 west – Sidney | Eastern terminus of ND 68 |
| McKenzie | Alexander | 160.505 | 258.308 | US 85 Bus. north – Alexander | Southern terminus of US 85 Bus. |
| McKenzie | Alexander | 163.506 | 263.137 | US 85 Bus. south – Alexander | Northern terminus of US 85 Bus. |
| McKenzie | ​ | 164.424 | 264.615 | ND 200 west – Fairview, Sidney | Northern end of ND 200 concurrency |
| Williams | ​ | 183.743 | 295.706 | US 2 west / ND 1804 north – Bainville | Southern end of US 2 and ND 1804 concurrency |
| Williams | Williston | 186.747 | 300.540 | US 2 Bus. east / ND 1804 south | Northern end of ND 1804 concurrency, western terminus of US 2 Bus. |
| Williams | Williston | 189.207 | 304.499 | US 2 Bus. west | Eastern terminus of US 2 Bus. |
| Williams | ​ | 201.265 | 323.905 | US 2 east | Northern end of US 2 concurrency |
| Williams | ​ | 216.995 | 349.220 | ND 50 | |
| Divide | ​ | 240.605 | 387.216 | ND 5 east – Crosby | Southern end of ND 5 concurrency |
| Divide | Fortuna | 248.670 | 400.196 | ND 5 west – Westby | Northern end of ND 5 concurrency |
| Divide | ​ | 255.063 | 410.484 | Canada–United States border at Fortuna–Oungre Border Crossing | Canada–United States border at Fortuna–Oungre Border Crossing |
| Divide | ​ | 255.063 | 410.484 | Highway 35 north – Weyburn, Regina | Continuation into Saskatchewan |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||