This 282.4-mile drive from Oakes to Dickinson, North Dakota, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes. You'll spend nearly all of your time on well-maintained highways, with 99% of the route being on I-94 and State Highway 1. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $44, making it an economical option. This highway-focused drive through the Great Plains region offers a consistent travel experience. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B within North Dakota.
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
141.2 miles from Oakes, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
212.1 mi
3h 23m
State Highway 1
53.4 mi
1h 2m
ND 1
14.7 mi
13m
3rd Avenue West
1.2 mi
1m
7th Street South
0.5 mi
1m
1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 212.1 mi, about 3h 23m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~575 veh/hr typical
· worst 809
Quietest
3 AM
~57 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Oakes, ND and Dickinson, 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
106 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 94; US 83
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
9
Keep slight left at fork
229 ft·13 sec
10
Turn left onto ND 22
1.2 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue West
11
Turn left
61 ft·6 sec
12
Turn right
174 ft·12 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour and 45-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Dickinson with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $44, this route is manageable in a single day. The longest stretch on I-94 is over 200 miles, so plan for your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. Consider packing snacks and drinks to maximize your time on the road and minimize unnecessary stops along the relatively uninterrupted highway segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the longest stretch on I-94.
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 141.2 miles from Oakes, ND, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.1 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 62 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.2 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dickinson, 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 282.4 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 212.1 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
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.1 and 282.4 — 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...
3
280.9 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
281.1 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
281.2 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|ND 22 / 3rd Avenue West
Turn left onto ND 22 / 3rd Avenue West
Navigation decision point
4
282.4 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.70 one way
$83.41 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.04
$92.08
premium
$4.72
$52.43
$104.87
diesel
$4.80
$53.32
$106.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.7
1
$29.65
$13.56
Efficient EV
70.6
0
$24.71
$11.30
EV Truck/SUV
113
1
$39.54
$18.07
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Oakes, ND
Evening
in Oakes on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
N 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dickinson, ND
Evening
in Dickinson on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
94°F
Napoleon, ND
141 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 99% of the journey utilizing major roads like I-94 and ND 1. The road profile is predominantly highway, meaning you'll likely experience consistent speeds and limited local traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 212.1 miles on I-94, so be prepared for extended periods of driving on this main artery. While the landscape is consistent with the Great Plains, the nature of the drive itself is about efficient travel rather than varied terrain.
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: 212.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 54.1 miles in near ND 1.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 280.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 281.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The longest stretch is about 212.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 280.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 281.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Dickinson, ND, but most travelers stay overnight.
