Spanning 176.8 miles across the North Dakota Great Plains, this drive from Oakes to Bismarck takes approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes. You will navigate a route primarily composed of Highway 1, 1st Street, and I-94 West. Given the manageable duration, this trip works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget about $26 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains hubs. Because the route relies on turn-heavy local roads rather than long interstate stretches, you should plan for a more engaged driving experience than a typical highway commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.7 miles from Oakes, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
114.3 mi
1h 48m
State Highway 1
53.4 mi
1h 2m
ND 1
14.7 mi
13m
State Street
1.1 mi
1m
North 7th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
7th Street South
0.5 mi
1m
US 83
0.3 mi
<1m
1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 114.3 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakes, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on ND 1
0.5 mi·1 min·7th Street South
2
Continue on ND 1
15 mi·18 min·State Highway 1
3
Continue on ND 1; ND 13
0.2 mi·34 sec·1st Street
4
Continue on ND 1
38 mi·44 min·State Highway 1
5
Take the ramp onto ND 1
15 mi·13 min·ND 1
Toward I 94 West, US 52 West, ND 1 North: Bismarck
6
Continue on I 94; US 52
106 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 94; US 52
7
Continue on I 94; US 83
8.2 mi·8 min·I 94; US 83
8
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 83
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
9
Turn left onto US 83; ND 1804
1.1 mi·1 min·State Street
10
Continue on ND 1804
0.2 mi·14 sec·East Boulevard Avenue
11
Turn straight onto ND 1804
0.6 mi·59 sec·North 7th Street
12
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Rosser Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
East Rosser Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 46-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local road segments. Since the route involves navigating through various turns on Highway 1 and 1st Street, leaving during daylight hours will significantly improve your visibility and comfort. Keep your $26 fuel budget in mind as you depart Oakes, ensuring your tank is ready for the 176.8-mile trek. Because this is a shorter trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to avoid local traffic spikes. A key tip for this specific route is to stay alert for the transition onto I-94 West, as shifting from local roads to the interstate will be the most significant change in your driving pace.
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 92.7 miles from Oakes, ND, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.3 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.7 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bismarck, ND than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oakes, 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 Oakes, ND
This is one driving day of about 185.3 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Oakes, 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 114.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 54.1 and 185.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
54.1 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|ND 1
Take the ramp onto ND 1 toward I 94 West, US 52 West, ND 1 North: Bismarck
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 West, US 52 West, ND 1 North: Bisma...
5
183 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
4
185.2 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|East Rosser Avenue
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.97 one way
$57.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.81
$63.61
premium
$4.89
$35.66
$71.32
diesel
$5.61
$40.91
$81.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.6
0
$19.46
$8.89
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
EV Truck/SUV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Oakes, ND
Evening
in Oakes on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Patchy Fog
NE 20 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:46AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:44PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Evening
in Bismarck on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Chance Light Rain
E 13 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:46AM CDT by NWS Bismarck ND
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:44PM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
65°F
Medina, ND
93 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
1 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
3h 11m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you attentive behind the wheel. Unlike routes dominated by high-speed interstate cruising, this journey features a 0% highway share on the primary segments, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. With no single segment on Highway 1 extending for a long distance, the road requires frequent adjustments and careful navigation. You will find that the character of the drive remains consistent as you transition from Oakes toward Bismarck. Prepare for a hands-on trip where the rhythm of the road changes often rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 1. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 54.1 miles in near ND 1.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Oakes, ND to Bismarck, ND is easy. At 3h 11m with 99% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 54.1 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.2 miles (East Rosser Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Bismarck (Hidasta: mirahacii arumaaguash; Arikara: ituhtaáwe) is the capital of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. Bismarck is North Dakota's second most populous city, after Fargo.
The longest stretch is about 114.3 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 54.1 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.2 miles (East Rosser Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Bismarck, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
