Origin
Wahpeton, ND
Afternoon in Wahpeton on Monday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
244 mi
393 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wahpeton, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Bismarck, ND
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND covers 244 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 4th Street North, Dakota Avenue, Highway 13 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
122 miles from Wahpeton, ND
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 26m drive with frequent turns across 244 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th Street North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dakota Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 13 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 83 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Boulevard Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
4th Street North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wahpeton, ND and Bismarck, ND.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue North
108 ft
·
7 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
2
Turn right onto 4th Street North
390 ft
·
15 sec
·
4th Street North
3
Turn right onto Dakota Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Dakota Avenue
4
Continue on State Highway 13
10 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 13
5
Take the exit right toward I 29 North, US 81 North: Fargo
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 29 North, US 81 North: Fargo
6
Merge slight left
40 mi
·
39 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 94 West, US 52 North: Bismarck
8
Merge slight left
182 mi
·
2 hr 53 min
9
Continue straight
8.2 mi
·
8 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 83 North: Bismarck, Minot
11
Turn left onto State Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
12
Continue on East Boulevard Avenue
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Boulevard Avenue
13
Turn straight onto North 7th Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
North 7th Street
14
Turn right onto East Rosser Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Rosser Avenue
15
Arrive at your destination
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 122 miles from Wahpeton, ND, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m
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 Wahpeton, 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 Wahpeton, ND
This is one driving day of about 244 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wahpeton, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122 mi from Wahpeton, ND · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122 miles from Wahpeton, ND, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bismarck, ND
The final approach into Bismarck, ND usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bismarck, ND.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.06 one way
$74.12 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $40.86 | $81.71 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.06 | $92.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.21 | $108.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.62 | $11.71 |
| Efficient EV | 61 | 0 | $21.35 | $9.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.6 | 1 | $34.16 | $15.62 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Afternoon in Bismarck on Monday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Jamestown, ND
122 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 26m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND covers 244 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 4th Street North, Dakota Avenue, Highway 13. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122 miles from Wahpeton, ND. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wahpeton, ND to Bismarck, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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