Origin
Garrison, ND
Late night in Garrison on Friday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garrison, ND to Wahpeton, ND
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 22m
Distance
315.7 mi
508 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 9m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garrison, ND
Ali Ahmad DANESH
Wahpeton, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Garrison, ND to Wahpeton, ND covers 315.7 miles and takes about 5h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, US 83, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.2 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
157.8 miles from Garrison, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 140.2 mi | 2h 14m |
| US 83 | 102.5 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 29 | 40.4 mi | 38m |
| US-83 S | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 13 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 37 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| State Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Dakota Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 140.2 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~591 veh/hr typical · worst 859
Quietest
3 AM
~63 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 101 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garrison, ND and Wahpeton, ND.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
2
Continue on 1st Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
3
Turn left onto Trooper Avenue
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Trooper Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto ND 37; ND 1804
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 37
5
Turn right onto US 83; ND 1804
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US-83 S
6
Continue on US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 83; ND 200; ND 1804
7
Continue on US 83; ND 1804
49 mi
·
54 min
·
US 83; ND 1804
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 83; ND 1804
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Street
9
Turn left onto US 83
50 mi
·
47 min
·
US 83
Toward Fargo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 94
140 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 94
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 29 South, US 81 South: Sioux Falls
12
Merge onto I 29; US 81
40 mi
·
38 min
·
I 29; US 81
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 23A
Toward ND 13 East: Wahpeton
14
Continue on ND 13
11 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 13
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on ND 13
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Dakota Avenue
16
Turn left onto 6th Street North
387 ft
·
19 sec
·
6th Street North
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
18
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue North
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.8 miles from Garrison, ND, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 69 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.8 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wahpeton, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Garrison, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Garrison, ND
This is one driving day of about 315.7 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Garrison, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 140.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.8 miles from Garrison, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 73.4 and 315.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
73.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
US 83
Turn left onto US 83 toward Fargo
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Fargo
5
263.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 29 South, US 81 South: Sioux Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 South, US 81 South: Sioux Falls
5
304.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 7m in
Take the exit toward ND 13 East: Wahpeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 23A
Toward ND 13 East: Wahpeton
6
315.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 21m in
|
6th Street North
Turn left onto 6th Street North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
315.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m in
|
2nd Avenue North
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.95 one way
$97.89 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $53.67 | $107.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $61.25 | $122.50 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $69.59 | $139.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.7 | 1 | $33.15 | $15.15 |
| Efficient EV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.62 | $12.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.3 | 1 | $44.20 | $20.20 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Wahpeton, ND
Late night in Wahpeton on Friday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Medina, ND
158 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
315.7 mi in 5h 22m, mostly highway — 140.2 mi of that is on I 94.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 83. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 73.4 miles in near US 83.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 22m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 73.4 miles (US 83): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 304.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,050 ft
912 ft
Total Climb
429 ft
Total Descent
1,391 ft
Highest Point
2,050 ft
~22.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,137 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Garrison, ND to Wahpeton, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Fargo along the way.
Fargo
73.4 mi in
|
~1h 25m
|
via US 83
About the Cities
Starting in Garrison, ND
Full guide →Founded 1905
Garrison is a town of 1,500 people (2018) in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota.
Arriving in Wahpeton, ND
Full guide →Founded 1869
Wahpeton is a town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. It has a population of about 8,000 people (2020). It is the home of North Dakota State College of Science.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 315.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ND can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 73.4 miles (US 83): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 304.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wahpeton, ND before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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