Abstract: In the wireless sensor network (WSN) routing protocol design, energy savings optimization is one of the major concerns, because most sensor nodes are equipped with the limited nonrechargeable battery power. In this paper, we concentrate on minimizing energy consumption and maximizing the network lifetime for data relay in one-dimensional (1-D) queue network, and propose an opportunity routing algorithm based on hibernation (ORBH) that not only properly protects the nodes with low energy which consider the remaining energy of nodes and the distance between nodes, but also proposes a selection algorithm based on hibernation mechanism which divides the states of nodes into sleeping state, switching state and working state. The simulation results show that ORBH extends the network lifetime more effectively and improves the network performance on energy saving and wireless connectivity.