Overview
Grand Forks is a city in northeast North Dakota, a state in the United States of America. With a population of about 57,000 people in 2017, it's the third largest urban area in the state. There are another 8,600 people in East Grand Forks on the other side of the Red River in Minnesota. Grand Forks is best known for the disastrous flood of 1997 and the productive nearby farms which grow mostly wheat and sugar beets. Grand Forks sits at the center of the former Lake Agassiz which is why this area is so incredibly flat.
1 sights · 4 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Grand Forks
Ralph Engelstad Arena
This has been selected as one of the top 10 sports arenas in the world. It is the home of the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey team. Attached to it is the Betty Engelstad Arena, home of UND's me…
Sports
High school and college sports abound.
Theater
Numerous theaters featuring a wide variety of plays and productions. Lots of entertainment comes to town to play at the Alerus, the Ralph Engelstad Arena and the Chester Fritz. Catch a play at the Firehall theatre (a cut…
Hunting
Fishing
In the summer, fish in lakes and rivers. In the winter, try ice fishing.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 1°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Fargo)
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.
- GFK Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks — 7 mi away. Directions
- TVF Thief River Falls Regional Airport, Thief River Falls — 40 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 278 mi away (major hub). Directions
Greyhound and Jefferson Lines serve Grand Forks. Buses stop at the Metro Transit Center (450 Kittson Ave), which is also the hub for local bus transportation. +1 701 775-4781.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Ralph Engelstad Arena, Sports, Theater
- Lunch Deek's Pizza
- Afternoon Hunting, Fishing
- Dinner Red Pepper
- Evening Denny's Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
A good place to start looking for restaurants is Downtown — the 100 block of North 3rd Street. There are various coffee shops, pizza places, and other locally owned restaurants in this area. A short walk over the bridge to East Grand Forks is a good followup.
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.
Get in
By plane
By bus
Greyhound and Jefferson Lines serve Grand Forks. Buses stop at the Metro Transit Center (450 Kittson Ave), which is also the hub for local bus transportation. +1 701 775-4781.
By car
US Highway 2 runs east-west, and Interstate 29 and US 81 run north-south. Fargo is about an hour south, Winnipeg is two hours north, and Minot is three hours west.
By train
Amtrak's Empire Builder serves Grand Forks daily on its route between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. Both eastbound and westbound trains arrive at inconvenient times, at midnight and 4:30AM respectively.
Get around
By bus
Grand Forks has the best bus system in North Dakota, operating Monday–Saturday, and it is adequate for most daytime excursions.
By taxi
Place Nodak Radio Cab Co
See
See Ralph Engelstad Arena
This has been selected as one of the top 10 sports arenas in the world. It is the home of the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey team. Attached to it is the Betty Engelstad Arena, home of UND's men basketball and women's basketball and volleyball.
Do
Do Theater
Numerous theaters featuring a wide variety of plays and productions. Lots of entertainment comes to town to play at the Alerus, the Ralph Engelstad Arena and the Chester Fritz. Catch a play at the Firehall theatre (a cute, old renovated fire station) or a musical at the Empire.
Do Hunting
Buy
Eat
A good place to start looking for restaurants is Downtown — the 100 block of North 3rd Street. There are various coffee shops, pizza places, and other locally owned restaurants in this area. A short walk over the bridge to East Grand Forks is a good followup.
Eat Sky's
Wonderful food, great wine list, excellent service. Live music often on weekends. Call for reservations.
Eat China Garden Restaurant
Sit-down Chinese restaurant.
Eat Rhombus Guys
Delicious pizza with a fun atmosphere.
Eat Red Pepper
Home of the Grinder. And amazing tacos.
Drink
In its early years, Grand Forks was a dry town, and East Grand Forks was more than happy to pick up the slack. Now the best drinking establishments in town are in the heart of the Downtown district.
Drink Denny's Tavern
Cool and cozy dive bar. Great place to duck in from the cold and have a few jars.
Sleep
Go next
- Winnipeg is two hours north via Interstate 29, and Fargo is about an hour south.
- Turtle River State Park is 20 minutes to the west on US Highway 2. Year-round recreational activities, including camping, picnicking, fishing and trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross country skiing. Rustic group cabins can also be rented.
- Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site near Cooperstown, 1.5-hour drive to the southwest. Preserved deactivated Minuteman II ICBM launch facility (topside only) and guided tours of preserved deactivated "Oscar Zero" Launch Control Center that was part of nuclear deterrent attached to Grand Forks AFB during the Cold War.
Nearby
East Grand Forks
City / town · 6 listings · 1 mi away
Arvilla
City / town · 2 listings · 21 mi away
Crookston
City / town · 1 listings · 22 mi away
Ardoch
City / town · 24 mi away
Hillsboro
City / town · 17 listings · 36 mi away
Grafton
City / town · 2 listings · 38 mi away
Blanchard
City / town · 1 listings · 41 mi away
Thief River Falls
City / town · 4 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
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