U.S. Route 281 in North Dakota

U.S. Highway 281 marker

U.S. Highway 281

American Legion Memorial Highway
US 281 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NDDOT
Length 267.190 mi (430.001 km)
Existed 1926–present
Major junctions
South end US 281 at the South Dakota line
Major intersections
North end ND 3 / PTH 10 at the Canada–United States border
Location
Country United States
State North Dakota
Counties Dickey, LaMoure, Stutsman, Foster, Eddy, Benson, Towner, Rolette
Highway system
  • North Dakota State Highway System
ND 256 ND 294

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 DakotaManitoba 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
Ellendale 4.612 7.422
ND 11 west – Ashley
Southern end of ND 11 concurrency
5.114 8.230
ND 11 east – Oakes
Northern end of ND 11 concurrency
LaMoure Edgeley 30.680 49.375 ND 13 – Kulm, LaMoure
LaMoureStutsman
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
69.485 111.825
ND 20 north
Southern terminus of ND 20
72.086 116.011
US 52 Truck (By-pass) east /

US 281 Truck (By-pass) south
Jamestown Truck Bypass to I-94
Pingree 90.225 145.203
ND 36 west – Woodworth
Eastern terminus of ND 36
StutsmanFoster
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
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
Minnewaukan 160.088 257.637
ND 19 west – Esmond
Southern end of ND 19 concurrency
West Bay Township 163.435 263.023
ND 19 east – Devils Lake
Northern end of ND 19 concurrency
Normania Township 175.184 281.931
US 2 west – Leeds
Southern end of US 2 concurrency
Churchs Ferry 178.239 286.848
US 2 east – Devils Lake
Northern end of US 2 concurrency
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
Paulson Township 200.226 322.233
ND 66 east – Egeland
Southern end of ND 66 concurrency
Sorenson Township 202.235 325.466
ND 66 west – Bisbee, Rolette
Northern end of ND 66 concurrency
Virginia Township 213.693 343.906
ND 5 east – Rock Lake
Southern end of ND 5 concurrency
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
North Rolette 253.208 407.499
ND 3 south – Rugby
Southern end of ND 3 concurrency
253.647 408.205
ND 5 west – Bottineau
Northern end of ND 5 concurrency
263.800 424.545
ND 43 west – Lake Metigoshe
Eastern terminus of ND 43
International Peace Garden 267.190 430.001 Dunseith–Boissevain Border Crossing

ND 3 ends, northern end of ND 3 concurrency
PTH 10 north – Brandon Continuation into Manitoba, Canada
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

  •  U.S. roads portal