This page delivers traffic analytics for Nelson County, North Dakota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Nelson County, North Dakota among 189 road miles divided in 856 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 1,164 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
523
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
11.1%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
42.2 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
2.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$71,533
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 523 vehicles per day in Nelson County, North Dakota that results in 112,942 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈41.2 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 9 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 42.2 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the North Dakota state averages: Nelson sees 76% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (523 vehicles per day against 2,174), suggesting less demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, Nelson accounts for about 0.6% of North Dakota's statewide total, at 112,942 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈41.2 million per year). The average trip takes 42.2 minutes, 14% higher than the state level. At 77% lower than the state level, the 2.5% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. By volume, Nelson's 523 vehicles per day outpaces 4% of counties in North Dakota. 63% of counties in North Dakota have a shorter average travel time than Nelson's 42.2 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,070
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
13.7%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
61.0 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
2.3%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
46.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$69,735
A significant volume of traffic in Nelson County, North Dakota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 1,070 vehicles per day, 156% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 418 vehicles per day. That average covers 52 highway road miles divided in 138 segments (average segment length 1,996 ft), together carrying 57,693 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈21.1 million per year). Trucks constitute 13.7% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Highway truck concentration here runs 6% lower than the state average, at 13.7% - positioning Nelson as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Nelson's highway truck share (13.7%) is higher than 26% of counties in North Dakota. Nelson's highway truck count is higher than 15% of counties in North Dakota, at roughly 146 trucks per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
418
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.5%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
38.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
2.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
55.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,222
The non-highway road network in Nelson County, North Dakota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 418 vehicles per day, 61% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 1,070 vehicles per day. That average covers 136 non-highway road miles divided in 718 segments (average segment length 1,004 ft), together carrying 55,249 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈20.2 million per year). Trucks constitute 8.5% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 38% lower than on highways. Non-highway congestion (2.5%) runs 77% lower than the state average, pointing to smoother local traffic flow. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 63% of counties in North Dakota. 25% of counties in North Dakota see lower average driver income among trip origins than Nelson. Nelson's median driver age is higher than 42% of counties in North Dakota.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 94% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 11% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
July–September is the high season, with volumes +33% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
March is the quietest month, with volumes -34% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Nelson County, North Dakota, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +33% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Nelson
North Dakota
Average
Difference
Traffic
523
2,174
-76.0%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
11.1%
11.1%
+0.4%
Truck % (Highway)
13.7%
14.5%
-5.9%
Avg. Travel Time
42.2 min
37.0 min
+13.8%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 523 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Nelson's highway truck share of 13.7% is higher than 26% of counties in North Dakota.
Trucks account for approximately 11.1% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 13.7% on highways.
Approximately 53% of highway traffic and 7% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Nelson County, North Dakota. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
The average travel time for drivers is 42.2 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Drivers on Nelson roads have a median age of 48 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $71,533 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
