diff --git a/docs/api.rst b/docs/api.rst
index 05598896..f0d2c5e9 100644
--- a/docs/api.rst
+++ b/docs/api.rst
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ Top-level functions
 .. autosummary::
    :toctree: api/
 
+    load_dataarray
     open_dataarray
+    load_dataset
     open_dataset
     open_mfdataset
     open_zarr
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index ba7b3f69..fb264745 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Added
   ``x_bounds`` and ``y_bounds`` are provided.
 - Added :attr:`xugrid.Ugrid1d.directed_edge_edge_connectivity` and
   :attr:`xugrid.Ugrid2d.directed_edge_edge_connectivity`.
+- Added :func:`xugrid.load_dataset` and :func:`xugrid.load_dataarray`.
 
 [0.12.2] 2025-01-31
 -------------------
diff --git a/tests/test_ugrid_dataset.py b/tests/test_ugrid_dataset.py
index 3327506c..bb56fe37 100644
--- a/tests/test_ugrid_dataset.py
+++ b/tests/test_ugrid_dataset.py
@@ -1015,6 +1015,18 @@ def test_open_dataset(tmp_path):
     assert "mesh2d_face_nodes" not in back.ugrid.obj
 
 
+def test_load_dataset(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "ugrid-dataset.nc"
+    uds = xugrid.UgridDataset(UGRID_DS())
+    uds.ugrid.to_netcdf(path)
+
+    back = xugrid.load_dataset(path)
+    assert isinstance(back, xugrid.UgridDataset)
+    assert "b" in back
+    assert "mesh2d_face_nodes" in back.ugrid.grids[0].to_dataset()
+    assert "mesh2d_face_nodes" not in back.ugrid.obj
+
+
 def test_open_dataset_cast_invalid(tmp_path):
     grid = GRID()
     vorgrid = grid.tesselate_centroidal_voronoi()
@@ -1040,6 +1052,20 @@ def test_open_dataarray_roundtrip(tmp_path):
     assert back.name == "a"
 
 
+def test_load_dataarray_roundtrip(tmp_path):
+    path = tmp_path / "ugrid-dataset.nc"
+    uds = xugrid.UgridDataset(UGRID_DS())
+    uds.ugrid.to_netcdf(path)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Given file dataset contains more than one"):
+        xugrid.load_dataarray(path)
+
+    path = tmp_path / "ugrid-dataarray.nc"
+    uds["a"].ugrid.to_netcdf(path)
+    back = xugrid.load_dataarray(path)
+    assert isinstance(back, xugrid.UgridDataArray)
+    assert back.name == "a"
+
+
 def test_open_mfdataset(tmp_path):
     path1 = tmp_path / "ugrid-dataset_1.nc"
     path2 = tmp_path / "ugrid-dataset_2.nc"
diff --git a/xugrid/__init__.py b/xugrid/__init__.py
index 77290c4c..cf65efab 100644
--- a/xugrid/__init__.py
+++ b/xugrid/__init__.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from xugrid.core.common import (
     concat,
     full_like,
+    load_dataarray,
     load_dataset,
     merge,
     ones_like,
@@ -39,11 +40,12 @@
     "data",
     "concat",
     "full_like",
+    "load_dataarray",
+    "load_dataset",
     "merge",
     "ones_like",
     "open_dataarray",
     "open_dataset",
-    "load_dataset",
     "open_mfdataset",
     "open_zarr",
     "zeros_like",
diff --git a/xugrid/core/common.py b/xugrid/core/common.py
index 5106cc06..e2bbdbf6 100644
--- a/xugrid/core/common.py
+++ b/xugrid/core/common.py
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@ def load_dataset(*args, **kwargs):
     return UgridDataset(ds)
 
 
-def open_dataarray(*args, **kwargs):
-    ds = xr.open_dataset(*args, **kwargs)
+def _dataarray_helper(ds: xr.Dataset):
     dataset = UgridDataset(ds)
-
     if len(dataset.data_vars) != 1:
         raise ValueError(
             "Given file dataset contains more than one data "
@@ -46,6 +44,16 @@ def open_dataarray(*args, **kwargs):
     return UgridDataArray(data_array, dataset.grid)
 
 
+def load_dataarray(*args, **kwargs):
+    ds = xr.load_dataset(*args, **kwargs)
+    return _dataarray_helper(ds)
+
+
+def open_dataarray(*args, **kwargs):
+    ds = xr.open_dataset(*args, **kwargs)
+    return _dataarray_helper(ds)
+
+
 def open_mfdataset(*args, **kwargs):
     if "data_vars" in kwargs:
         raise ValueError("data_vars kwargs is not supported in xugrid.open_mfdataset")
@@ -59,7 +67,9 @@ def open_zarr(*args, **kwargs):
     return UgridDataset(ds)
 
 
+load_dataset.__doc__ = xr.load_dataset.__doc__
 open_dataset.__doc__ = xr.open_dataset.__doc__
+load_dataarray.__doc__ = xr.load_dataarray.__doc__
 open_dataarray.__doc__ = xr.open_dataarray.__doc__
 open_mfdataset.__doc__ = xr.open_mfdataset.__doc__
 open_zarr.__doc__ = xr.open_zarr.__doc__
diff --git a/xugrid/core/wrap.py b/xugrid/core/wrap.py
index 04d66bd8..60dd007f 100644
--- a/xugrid/core/wrap.py
+++ b/xugrid/core/wrap.py
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ def from_structured2d(
         2. "longitude" and "latitude" dimensions
         3. "axis" attributes of "X" or "Y" on coordinates
         4. "standard_name" attributes of "longitude", "latitude",
-          "projection_x_coordinate", or "projection_y_coordinate" on coordinate
-          variables
+           "projection_x_coordinate", or "projection_y_coordinate" on coordinate
+           variables
 
         Parameters
         ----------