# U.S. Route 281 in North Dakota

U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Hidalgo, Texas and Brownsville, Texas, to its northern terminus at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota. In the U.S. state of North Dakota, US 281 extends from the South Dakota state line south of Ellendale, North Dakota and ends at the North Dakota–Manitoba border.

## Route description

In North Dakota, US 281 is a major north–south artery. It enters south of Ellendale and intersects Interstate 94 and US 52 at Jamestown. 281 and 52 remain paired together to Carrington. From there, US 281 continues northward through Sheyenne. Ten miles north of Sheyenne the highway curves in order to go around Devil's Lake, and then continues to west of Minnewaukan. From there it goes to ND at Rocklake. US 281 follows ND 5 westward to Dunseith, where the highway turns north in concurrence with North Dakota Highway 3 to its end at the Canada–United States border in the International Peace Garden. The northernmost section of US 281 passes through North Dakota's Turtle Mountains.

## History

The entire route of US 281 within the state was North Dakota Highway 4. In 1934, US 281 replaced Highway 4 south of Rock Lake. US 281 was extended north to the Canada–United States border between 1939 and 1940, replacing the remainder of Highway 4.
Recently, US 281 was rebuilt near Minnewaukan, North Dakota to accommodate flooding close to the city.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Dickey | Ellendale Township | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 281 south – Aberdeen | Continuation into South Dakota |
| Dickey | Ellendale | 4.612 | 7.422 | ND 11 west – Ashley | Southern end of ND 11 concurrency |
| Dickey | Ellendale | 5.114 | 8.230 | ND 11 east – Oakes | Northern end of ND 11 concurrency |
| LaMoure | Edgeley | 30.680 | 49.375 | ND 13 – Kulm, LaMoure | |
| LaMoure–Stutsman county line | Kennison–Severn township line | 49.707 | 79.996 | ND 46 – Gackle, Enderlin | |
| Stutsman | Jamestown | 67.488 | 108.611 | I-94 / US 52 Truck (By-pass) west / US 281 Truck (By-pass) north – Bismarck I-94 / US 52 east – Fargo | Southern end of US 52 concurrency, I-94 exit 258 |
| Stutsman | Jamestown | 69.485 | 111.825 | ND 20 north | Southern terminus of ND 20 |
| Stutsman | Jamestown | 72.086 | 116.011 | US 52 Truck (By-pass) east / US 281 Truck (By-pass) south | Jamestown Truck Bypass to I-94 |
| Stutsman | Pingree | 90.225 | 145.203 | ND 36 west – Woodworth | Eastern terminus of ND 36 |
| Stutsman–Foster county line | Walters–Melville township line | 102.710 | 165.296 | ND 9 east – Kensal | Western terminus of ND 9 |
| Foster | Carrington | 112.539 | 181.114 | US 52 west / ND 200 – Harvey, Cooperstown | Northern end of US 52 concurrency |
| Eddy | Superior Township | 125.557 | 202.064 | ND 15 west – Fessenden, Minot | Southern end of ND 15 concurrency |
| Eddy | New Rockford | 128.504 | 206.807 | ND 15 east – ND 20 | Northern end of ND 15 concurrency |
| Benson | Lallie Township | 149.106 | 239.963 | ND 57 east – Fort Totten, Devils Lake | Western terminus of ND 57 |
| Benson | Minnewaukan | 160.088 | 257.637 | ND 19 west – Esmond | Southern end of ND 19 concurrency |
| Benson | West Bay Township | 163.435 | 263.023 | ND 19 east – Devils Lake | Northern end of ND 19 concurrency |
| Benson | Normania Township | 175.184 | 281.931 | US 2 west – Leeds | Southern end of US 2 concurrency |
| Benson | Churchs Ferry | 178.239 | 286.848 | US 2 east – Devils Lake | Northern end of US 2 concurrency |
| Benson | Churchs Ferry | 178.433 | 287.160 | US 281 Bus. south – Churchs Ferry | Northern terminus of US 281 Bus. |
| Towner | Cando | 190.219 | 306.128 | ND 17 – Wolford, Starkweather | |
| Towner | Paulson Township | 200.226 | 322.233 | ND 66 east – Egeland | Southern end of ND 66 concurrency |
| Towner | Sorenson Township | 202.235 | 325.466 | ND 66 west – Bisbee, Rolette | Northern end of ND 66 concurrency |
| Towner | Virginia Township | 213.693 | 343.906 | ND 5 east – Rock Lake | Southern end of ND 5 concurrency |
| Towner | Armourdale Township | 221.175 | 355.947 | ND 4 north – Hansboro, Port of Entry | Southern terminus of ND 4 |
| Rolette | Rolla | 232.462 | 374.111 | ND 30 | |
| Rolette | North Rolette | 253.208 | 407.499 | ND 3 south – Rugby | Southern end of ND 3 concurrency |
| Rolette | North Rolette | 253.647 | 408.205 | ND 5 west – Bottineau | Northern end of ND 5 concurrency |
| Rolette | North Rolette | 263.800 | 424.545 | ND 43 west – Lake Metigoshe | Eastern terminus of ND 43 |
| International Peace Garden | International Peace Garden | 267.190 | 430.001 | Dunseith–Boissevain Border Crossing ND 3 ends, northern end of ND 3 concurrency | Dunseith–Boissevain Border Crossing ND 3 ends, northern end of ND 3 concurrency |
| International Peace Garden | International Peace Garden | 267.190 | 430.001 | PTH 10 north – Brandon | Continuation into Manitoba, Canada |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||