North Dakota’s Most Dangerous Roads in 2026

North Dakota roads have turned deadlier in 2026. There have been 59 recorded roadway deaths in North Dakota as of mid-August, according to Inforum and NHTSA data.

Rural highways, long travel distances, lack of seatbelt use, speeding, and bad weather all contribute to the issue, but a few specific highways keep showing up as the most dangerous and deadly: U.S. Highway 85 and U.S. Highway 2.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that fatalities are trending higher this year, after hitting a record low just last year (2025). In 2025, there were 85 traffic deaths, which was a 29-year low for the state.

Fatalities On U.S. Hwy 2 and Hwy 85

US Highway 2 runs from the Montana border to Minnesota, going through Williston, Minot, and Grand Forks. It's a deadly 358-mile stretch; reports say 10 people die on this stretch of road every year, and several (4) deaths have occurred in 2026.

Highway 85 enters from South Dakota near Bowman, runs through the state, and heads toward Canada. It's one of the main routes for commercial trucks in the oil industry. This is one reason it's much more dangerous than other North Dakota roads.

Planning for a Highway 85 expansion is underway, where it would change from two lanes to four for a 62-mile stretch. Hopefully, this will help make it a little safer for North Dakota drivers. So far in 2026, Highway 85 has seen two deaths.

Next time you're traveling on any North Dakota road, but especially these two, use extra caution.