Overview
Devils Lake is a small city in the Lakes and Gardens area of North Dakota. It has a population of about 7,141 people in 2010 census. Its elevation is 1,475 feet.
10 sights · 2 things to do · 11 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Devils Lake
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
Drive through game preserve with Buffalo, Elk, Deer and Prairie Dogs. Interpretive Center open until afternoon. $2 per car, $12 annual pass. Visitor are asked to stay in the vehicle once the gates are crossed. Automated …
Fort Totten
State Historic Site
Devils Lake State Parks
Three state parks and recreation areas on Devils Lake. Recreational activities include fishing, boating and nature watching. Camping is available at Grahams Island.
Grahams Island State Park
Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area
Lake Region Heritage Center
Local history exhibits, two art galleries. Open year round Monday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM. Admission fee $3, seniors $2.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about -6°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Jul. (climate data from nearby New Rockford)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DVL Devils Lake Regional Airport, Devils Lake — 2 mi away. Directions
- GFK Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks — 79 mi away. Directions
US Highway 2 runs through the southern portion of the city. This highway connects the city to Minot about two hours to the west, and Grand Forks about 1.5 hours to the east.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, Devils Lake State Parks
- Lunch Cedar Inn
- Afternoon Lake Region Heritage Center, Devils Run Car Show
- Dinner The Cove
- Evening Ed's Bar
Day 2
- Morning Fort Totten, Grahams Island State Park
- Lunch Dakotah Buffet
- Afternoon Lake Region Heritage House Museum, Spirit Lake Casino & Resort
- Dinner Elks Lodge
- Evening ProZ End of the Line
Day 3
- Morning Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area, North Dakota Maritime Museum
- Lunch First Buffet House
- Afternoon Devil's Lake Speedway, Fishing
- Dinner Hot Stuff Pizzeria
- Evening Thirsty's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Devils Lake is also the name of North Dakota's largest natural lake, with 120,00 acres of surface area and 375 miles of shoreline. As such, it is the focus of numerous recreational and tourist activities, including boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, photography, etc. The lake is also a natural habitat for various species of waterfowl, which makes it a popular spot for nature lovers, photographers, hunters and birders. Hiking, biking, camping are also popular activities. Scenic drives abound.
Devils Lake offers year round activities for the tourist. In the winter, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are but a few of the options. Many resorts and lodges surround the lake.
Get in
By car
US Highway 2 runs through the southern portion of the city. This highway connects the city to Minot about two hours to the west, and Grand Forks about 1.5 hours to the east.
By plane
Go Devils Lake Regional Airport (Devils Lake Municipal Airport DVL)
Skywest as United Express goes to/from Denver via Jamestown. The rest of the airport serves as a general aviation airport.
By train
- Route stopping at Devils Lake:
- Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
Get around
Scenic drives to the east and west of Devils Lake on US Hwy 2. Map
See
See Grahams Island State Park
See Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area
See Lake Region Heritage Center
Local history exhibits, two art galleries. Open year round Monday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM. Admission fee $3, seniors $2.
See Lake Region Heritage House Museum
Large 1910-era home with artifacts from Lake Region area families. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, W-Su, 1PM to 4PM. Admission fee $3, seniors $2.
See White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
Drive through game preserve with Buffalo, Elk, Deer and Prairie Dogs. Interpretive Center open until afternoon. $2 per car, $12 annual pass. Visitor are asked to stay in the vehicle once the gates are crossed. Automated gates provide daytime access to the park. Park closes at sunset. It also tends to close when thunderstorms or snow is forecast within 48 hours- their hours are very, conservative in this regard.
Do
Do Fishing
For walleye, pike, perch and white bass in Devils Lake. Annual Devils Lake Fishing Tournament in late June. There is also a fishing tournament in June at the Spirit Lake Casino (see above).
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Go next
There are four other large lakes nearby: Chain Lake, Lake Irvine, Dry Lake and Sweet Water Lake. Stump Lake is about 35 miles southeast in Nelson County.
Nearby
Churchs Ferry
City / town · 1 listings · 18 mi away
Edmore
City / town · 4 listings · 28 mi away
Cando
City / town · 8 listings · 30 mi away
New Rockford
City / town · 31 listings · 33 mi away
Alsen
City / town · 2 listings · 36 mi away
Egeland
City / town · 2 listings · 37 mi away
Adams
City / town · 3 listings · 42 mi away
Binford
City / town · 8 listings · 45 mi away
My experience
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