This 255.7-mile journey from Oakes to Minot, North Dakota, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours to complete. You'll spend about 81% of your time on highways, primarily US-52 and State Highway 1, with a brief stint on 5th Street Northwest as you enter Minot. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $40. As a highway-focused route through the Great Plains, expect a straightforward and efficient trip. This route is a solid option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two North Dakota cities without needing an overnight stop.
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
127.8 miles from Oakes, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US-52
83 mi
1h 39m
State Highway 1
53.4 mi
1h 2m
5th Street Northwest
41.6 mi
48m
United States Highway 52
41.5 mi
48m
ND 1
14.7 mi
13m
I 94
13.9 mi
13m
7th Street South
1.5 mi
3m
1st Avenue South
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US-52
— 83 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakes, ND and Minot, 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
14 mi·13 min·I 94; US 52
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward Jamestown
8
Turn left onto Business Loop East
0.6 mi·57 sec·Business Loop East
9
Continue on 12th Avenue
0.2 mi·17 sec·12th Avenue
10
Continue on 12th Avenue
420 ft·6 sec·12th Avenue
11
Continue on 10th Street Southeast
0.7 mi·1 min·10th Street Southeast
12
Turn right onto US 52; US 281
0.9 mi·1 min·1st Avenue South
13
Turn left onto US 52; US 281
42 mi·48 min·5th Street Northwest
14
Continue on US 52; US 281
0.4 mi·47 sec·4th Avenue South
15
Turn left onto 7th Street South
1.0 mi·2 min·7th Street South
16
Turn right onto 1605
0.9 mi·1 min·19th Avenue South
17
Turn left onto US 52; ND 200
23 mi·26 min·United States Highway 52
18
Turn right onto US 52
28 mi·32 min·US-52
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·21 sec·United State Highway 52
20
Continue on US 52; ND 3
11 mi·13 min·United States Highway 52
21
Continue on US 52
0.3 mi·23 sec·1st Street
22
Continue on US 52
6.7 mi·7 min·US-52
23
Continue on US 52; ND 14
7.4 mi·8 min·United States Highway 52
24
Continue on US 52; ND 14
27 mi·31 min·US-52
25
Continue on US 52
0.8 mi·1 min·West Street
26
Continue on US 52
21 mi·27 min·US-52
27
Turn left onto US 2 Business; US 52 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·Burdick Expressway East
28
Arrive at destination
US 2 Business; US 52 Business
Trip Plan
With a duration of about 5 hours, this route from Oakes to Minot is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider an early start to maximize daylight and ensure you reach your destination with ample time. While there's only one designated stop on this route, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 83 miles on US-52, as services may be spaced out. The $40 fuel estimate should help you budget accordingly for this efficient highway drive.
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 127.8 miles from Oakes, ND, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 26m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minot, 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 255.7 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 US-52 for about 83 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.1 and 152.2 — 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...
4
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jamestown
4
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Turn left onto US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|7th Street South
Turn left onto 7th Street South
Navigation decision point
5
152.2 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|US 52 / US-52
Turn right onto US 52 / US-52
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.98 one way
$79.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.89
$87.78
premium
$4.89
$49.21
$98.41
diesel
$5.61
$56.46
$112.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
EV Truck/SUV
102.3
1
$35.80
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Oakes, ND
Evening
in Oakes on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minot, ND
Evening
in Minot on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Munster, ND
128 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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 1m 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?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 81% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 83 miles on US-52, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is likely to be open and efficient, typical of routes through the Great Plains. Expect a relatively smooth transition between the main highways, with State Highway 1 providing a clear path before you navigate local streets like 5th Street Northwest into your destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83 mi on US-52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US-52 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 5h 1m 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 54.1 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.4 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point.
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 Oakes, ND to Minot, ND, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
Jamestown
82.7 mi in|~1h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 255.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 83 miles on US-52. 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 54.1 miles (ND 1): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 85.4 miles (US 52; US 281 / 5th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Minot, ND before the return drive.
