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Trip from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, ND

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

78.8 mi

127 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

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.

seat of Richland County, North Dakota, United States

Wahpeton, ND

Wikimedia Commons

human settlement in Dickey County, North Dakota, United States of America

Oakes, ND

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, ND covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Highway 13, State Highway 1, Dakota Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.1 miles on State Highway 13. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.4 miles from Wahpeton, ND

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

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 37m highway drive covering 78.8 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 13 and State Highway 1. The longest continuous stretch is about 72.1 miles on State Highway 13.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 13 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near 4th Street North.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, 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: near the start (4th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ND 13 / Dakota Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 4th Street North

Turn right onto 4th Street North

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | ND 13 / Dakota Avenue

Turn right onto ND 13 / Dakota Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 13 72.1 mi 1h 26m
State Highway 1 5.5 mi 6m
Dakota Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
7th Street North 0.5 mi 1m
4th Street North <0.1 mi <1m
2nd Avenue North <0.1 mi <1m
7th Street South Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: State Highway 13 — 72.1 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Avenue North

109 ft · 6 sec · 2nd Avenue North
2

Turn right onto 4th Street North

392 ft · 14 sec · 4th Street North
3

Turn right onto ND 13

0.6 mi · 1 min · Dakota Avenue
4

Continue on ND 13

11 mi · 12 min · State Highway 13
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on ND 13

62 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 13
6

Continue on ND 1

5.5 mi · 6 min · State Highway 1
7

Continue on ND 1

0.5 mi · 1 min · 7th Street North
8

Arrive at destination

ND 1

Trip Plan

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 Wahpeton, 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 78.8 miles or 1h 37m 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 Oakes, 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 78.8 miles and 1h 37m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.4 mi from Wahpeton, ND · 48m into the drive

Downtown West Fargo, ND, ND

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Fargo, 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

Valley City, ND

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Fargo, ND

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Wahpeton, 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.

Arriving in Oakes, ND

The final approach into Oakes, 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 Oakes, 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

$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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Wahpeton, ND

Night in Wahpeton on Tuesday

Local time

11:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oakes, ND

Night in Oakes on Tuesday

Local time

11:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

38°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, ND covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 13, State Highway 1, Dakota Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.4 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 $12.32 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, ND is easy. At 1h 37m with 99% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ND 13 / Dakota Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Wahpeton, ND to Oakes, ND does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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