Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Oakes, ND to Wahpeton, ND

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

78.8 mi

127 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
human settlement in Dickey County, North Dakota, United States of America

Oakes, ND

Wikimedia Commons

seat of Richland County, North Dakota, United States

Wahpeton, ND

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 78.8-mile drive from Oakes to Wahpeton, North Dakota, is designed for a single day, taking about 1 hour and 37 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing State Highway 13 and State Highway 1, with a brief stint on 7th Street South, this journey is almost entirely highway driving at 99%. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option. The route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your travel. It's a quick trip that doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.4 miles from Oakes, ND

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 13 72.1 mi 1h 26m
State Highway 1 5.5 mi 6m
7th Street South 0.5 mi 1m
Dakota Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
2nd Avenue North 0.1 mi <1m
6th Street North <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 13 — 72.1 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakes, ND and Wahpeton, ND.

1

Start on ND 1

0.5 mi · 1 min · 7th Street South
2

Continue on ND 1

5.5 mi · 6 min · State Highway 1
3

Continue on ND 13

72 mi · 1 hr 26 min · State Highway 13
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on ND 13

0.4 mi · 1 min · Dakota Avenue
5

Turn left onto 6th Street North

387 ft · 19 sec · 6th Street North
Use the left lane.
6

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North

0.1 mi · 26 sec · 2nd Avenue North
7

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue North

Trip Plan

Given its short duration of under two hours, this route offers great flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive in Wahpeton with plenty of daylight left, or enjoy a leisurely afternoon drive. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, especially since the longest stretch is over 70 miles. Consider departing Oakes after the morning rush to maximize your time on the open highway. The estimated fuel cost of $12 makes it an affordable segment of a larger road trip.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Oakes, ND, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.1 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 17 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.4 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 21m

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 Oakes, ND so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Oakes, ND

This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Oakes, ND.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 13 for about 72.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Lidgerwood, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lidgerwood, ND

39 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

Lisbon, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lidgerwood, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Oakes, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before State Highway 13 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sweets 'n Stories

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oakes, North Dakota

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm

+17017422007

Top Coffee Stop

Dakota Coffee Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wahpeton, North Dakota

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 78.8

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+17015912022

Visit website

Cenex

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oakes, North Dakota

0 mi

Drifter Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Breckenridge, Minnesota

0.9 mi

Sweets 'n Stories

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Oakes, North Dakota

Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm

+17017422007

Dakota Coffee Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 78.8

Wahpeton, North Dakota

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+17015912022

Visit website

Cenex

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route

Oakes, North Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17017422419

Visit website

Drifter Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 78.8

Breckenridge, Minnesota

Hours: 6:30 am–5:30 pm

+12186510119

Visit website

Dakota Dirt Coffee Shop

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 39.4

Milnor, North Dakota

Hours: 7–11 am

Elevated Grounds Coffee

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 28.1

Gwinner, North Dakota

Hours: 6:30 am–1 pm

+17016783803

B and B Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Oakes, North Dakota

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+17017422665

Visit website

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 6 and 78.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
6 mi into trip | ~8m in | ND 13 / State Highway 13

Continue onto ND 13 / State Highway 13

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
78.6 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | 6th Street North

Turn left onto 6th Street North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
78.7 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | 2nd Avenue North

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.32 one way

$24.64 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.53 $27.05
premium $4.89 $15.16 $30.33
diesel $5.61 $17.40 $34.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.6 0 $8.27 $3.78
Efficient EV 19.7 0 $6.90 $3.15
EV Truck/SUV 31.5 0 $11.03 $5.04

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Oakes, ND

Evening in Oakes on Saturday

Local time

8:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wahpeton, ND

Evening in Wahpeton on Saturday

Local time

8:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1h 37m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip. With 99% of the drive on main roads, you'll spend most of your time on State Highway 13 and State Highway 1. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 72.1 miles on State Highway 13, meaning you'll have plenty of uninterrupted driving time. This profile suggests a consistent pace, suitable for covering ground efficiently without frequent turns or complex road changes.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.1 mi on State Highway 13.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 13 and State Highway 1. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near ND 13 / State Highway 13.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Oakes, ND to Wahpeton, ND is easy. At 1h 37m with 99% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (ND 13 / State Highway 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles (6th Street North): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.7 miles (2nd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 72.1 miles on State Highway 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 6 miles (ND 13 / State Highway 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.6 miles (6th Street North): Lane positioning matters here; at 78.7 miles (2nd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wahpeton, ND before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Wahpeton, ND

Bottineau, ND 320.4 mi · 6h 10m Beulah, ND 319.5 mi · 5h 28m Belcourt, ND 310.3 mi · 5h 36m Harvey, ND 241.8 mi · 4h 22m

More from Oakes, ND

Watford City, ND 366.3 mi · 6h 19m Dickinson, ND 282.4 mi · 4h 45m Minot, ND 255.7 mi · 5h 1m Bismarck, ND 185.3 mi · 3h 11m

More trips to Wahpeton, ND

Killdeer, ND 374.1 mi Fort Totten, ND 224.5 mi
Escape planner: Oakes, ND Scenic drives in ND

Explore more options from Oakes, ND or browse trips ending in Wahpeton, ND.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ND road trips.