Overview
Minot is a city in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota with an estimated 48,000 inhabitants in 2020. Known as the Magic City, it's a significant rail hub (for freight, anyway). However, its location deep within North America and off the Interstate System generally means you don't see Minot if you don't plan on it.
7 sights · 2 things to do · 6 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Minot
Roosevelt Park and Zoo
Roosevelt Park is the city's largest park. Features include a zoo, a swimming pool, and a 2/5ths scale railroad you can take a ride on around the park, in addition to gardens, walking paths, picnic shelters, tennis court…
Scandinavian Heritage Park
A 14-acre (6 hectares) park highlighting the Scandinavian roots of the region. Feature of the park include a 230-year-old house from Norway and a stave church.
Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art
This venue has over 1600 square feet (150 m2) of gallery space, for emerging and established talent locally, regionally, and internationally. Showcase guest artists and member’s work, as well as maintaining a permanent c…
The North Dakota State Fair
The North Dakota State Fair is one of the biggest entertainment events of the year, bringing big name concerts, carnival rides, and fairway fare. The fair runs 9 days, from the second-to-last Friday in July to the last S…
Minot Railroad Museum
The museum has provided its guests with a glimpse at the fascinating history of the westward railroad expansion since its opening in 1986.
Riverwalk of Minot
A 2.5-mile (4 km) walking and biking trail along the Souris River, which is accessible from a number of Minot attractions including the Railroad Museum and Roosevelt Park.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 4°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May.
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.
- MOT Minot International Airport, Minot — 2 mi away. Directions
- BIS Bismarck Municipal Airport, Bismarck — 104 mi away. Directions
Minot's location towards the center of the continent places it well off the beaten path for travelers. Most commonly, visitors are passing by. Often they are taking the scenic route west through Montana (or coming from that direction). Also, many Canadian tour buses bound for points east (Minneapolis, Chicago, etc.) will cross into the US through Portal, and stop in Minot for fuel and a quick bite.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $30–$89 a night (typical $65), from 7 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$260.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Roosevelt Park and Zoo, Norsk Høstfest, The North Dakota State Fair
- Lunch Charlie's Main Street Cafe
- Afternoon Dakota Territory Air Museum, Riverwalk of Minot
- Dinner Sammy's Pizza
- Evening The Blue Rider
Day 2
- Morning Minot Railroad Museum, Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art
- Lunch Planet Pizza
- Afternoon St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Scandinavian Heritage Park
- Dinner China Star
- Evening Sports on Tap
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Food is pretty cheap in Minot. You're looking at $10 tops per person in most cases, maybe $20 at some of the nicer sit-down restaurants. If you really want to pull out on the stops, it is theoretically possible to spend $50 a plate at a handful of places in town... if you care to.
You will not need a reservation for any restaurant in town. Some restaurants do have private rooms that can be reserved, which are generally for business or political meetings.
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
The Souris River goes through the middle of town, carving a valley in the middle of flat prairie. The town arose in 1880s as a stop along the Great Northern railway. During Prohibition the city became a nexus for alcohol smuggling. After World War II the city settled down into quiet suburbanation. Today Minot is best known for the US Air Force base north of town. You can drive to Canada in just over an hour.
Minot is a rather unusual city, though possessing levels of services similar to much larger cities, it struggles between small-town and cosmopolitan attitudes. Civic growth is not greatly helped by the climate. T-shirts available at the airport have this motto: "Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!"
Tourist information
Climate
While North Dakota is typically associated with a cold climate, the weather actually has its extremes, and Minot reaches temperatures of 90s F (32 °C) (sometimes even 100s (38 °C)) in the summer months.
Get in
By plane
Go Minot International Airport (MOT)
The airport is served by Allegiant (Las Vegas, Orlando Sanford Airport, Phoenix-Mesa Airport), Delta/Delta Connection (Minneapolis-St Paul) and United/United Express (Denver and Houston). There are taxis, rideshare (Lyft & Uber), and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally. There are also car rentals available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around to the surrounding areas. See this Link for a list of ground transport options.
By car
Minot's location towards the center of the continent places it well off the beaten path for travelers. Most commonly, visitors are passing by. Often they are taking the scenic route west through Montana (or coming from that direction). Also, many Canadian tour buses bound for points east (Minneapolis, Chicago, etc.) will cross into the US through Portal, and stop in Minot for fuel and a quick bite.
The major routes through the city are US 2 (east-west), US 83 (north-south), and US 52 (northwest-southeast). US 2 intersects with Interstate 29 in Grand Forks, US 83 intersects with Interstate 94 in Bismarck, and US 52 intersects with Interstate 94 in Jamestown. Successors to 83 and 52 also intersect with the Trans-Canada Highway.
By train
- Route stopping at Minot:
- 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. Westbound trains pass through about 9AM while eastbound trains pass through about 9PM, but delays are quite common on this route.
By bus
Get around
Unless you've brought a bicycle and happen to be in good shape, you aren't getting anywhere in Minot without a car. Some public transit is available at certain times, but for visitors it's more trouble than it's worth.
Car rental
Avis (+1 701 838-7665), Hertz (+1 701 852-0104), and National (+1 701 852-5115) are at the airport. There is a Rent-a-Wreck (838-0098) at a Sinclair gas station three (hilly) blocks south of the Amtrak station. There is an Enterprise location (+1 701 838-3800) on the south end of town. Enterprise and Rent-a-Wreck will pick you up; Avis, Hertz, and National are oriented primarily towards airline travelers.
By public transit
Minot City Transit provides service. There is no bus stop at the Amtrak station. Also, there is no common transfer stop between routes. Buses run every hour between 9AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday. Two trips run between 6:55AM to 8:30AM on school days and again between 2:55PM and 4:30PM
Fare is $1.25. Children under 6 pay no fare. Monthly passes for adults are $34.00. Monthly passes for senior citizens and disabled are $26.00.
See
See Riverwalk of Minot
A 2.5-mile (4 km) walking and biking trail along the Souris River, which is accessible from a number of Minot attractions including the Railroad Museum and Roosevelt Park.
See Roosevelt Park and Zoo
Roosevelt Park is the city's largest park. Features include a zoo, a swimming pool, and a 2/5ths scale railroad you can take a ride on around the park, in addition to gardens, walking paths, picnic shelters, tennis courts, and a band shell. Be sure to check out the sundial near the train station and the statue of Theodore Roosevelt in the southwest part of the park.
See Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art
This venue has over 1600 square feet (150 m2) of gallery space, for emerging and established talent locally, regionally, and internationally. Showcase guest artists and member’s work, as well as maintaining a permanent collection. The gallery's Museum Gift Shop sells ND artists' work. Tours are welcome anytime.
Do
Do The North Dakota State Fair
The North Dakota State Fair is one of the biggest entertainment events of the year, bringing big name concerts, carnival rides, and fairway fare. The fair runs 9 days, from the second-to-last Friday in July to the last Saturday in July.
Do Norsk Høstfest
The Norsk Høstfest (Norwegian autumn festival) is North America's largest Scandinavian heritage festival, running more than 25 years. The Høstfest, like the State Fair, brings in big-name entertainers to Minot, along with a lot of other folks! The Norsk Høstfest runs 4 days, in late September or early October. See Nordic migration to North America for context.
Buy
Shopping opportunities are ample in Minot. Downtown Minot, northeast of the intersection of Burdick Expressway and Broadway, has small shops and restaurants, particularly along Main Street and Central Avenue. Souvenirs are available at the airport.
Shop Town and Country Center
A strip mall. Much of it is office space but there is a drugstore, a variety store, and a travel agency.
Shop Budget Music and Video
A locally owned record shop with a large collection of new and used CDs, body jewelry, incense, lighters, posters, and paintings amongst other odds and ends.
Eat
Food is pretty cheap in Minot. You're looking at $10 tops per person in most cases, maybe $20 at some of the nicer sit-down restaurants. If you really want to pull out on the stops, it is theoretically possible to spend $50 a plate at a handful of places in town... if you care to.
You will not need a reservation for any restaurant in town. Some restaurants do have private rooms that can be reserved, which are generally for business or political meetings.
Budget
National and global fast food chains are present in Minot.
Eat Charlie's Main Street Cafe
American fare. Open for breakfast and lunch.
Mid-range
Eat Homesteader's Restaurant
Downhome cooking.
Eat China Star
Chinese buffet and Mongolian barbecue. Open lunch and dinner. Local delivery.
Eat Planet Pizza
Pizza and video games! The place to take your children. Party room available. Local delivery.
Eat Sammy's Pizza
Italian cuisine. Local delivery.
Splurge
Eat Primo
Italian and American cuisine. Biggest list of wines, scotches, and cognacs in town. If there is a place to wine and dine in Minot, this is it. Open 24 hours. Private rooms available. This restaurant does not take reservations.
Drink
Drink The Blue Rider
Dive bar, in business since 1994. 16 beers on tap, a selection of cocktails and snacks. Sometimes live music, Trivia night on Wednesdays, free nachos on Thursdays.
Sleep
Accommodations are easy to find in Minot -- except during the State Fair and Høstfest. Be sure to reserve your rooms well in advance if you're planning to stay during late July and early October.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay safe
There is little crime in Minot. Most residents do lock their doors, but in wintertime many people leave their cars running in parking lots as they run their errands.
Probably the most significant danger comes from city traffic. Pedestrians should yield to oncoming traffic -- most people will not stop to let you by, even at crosswalks. Also, drunk and exhibition driving is a risk late on weekends. Stay alert on the roads at those times.
Go next
- Rugby (70 miles (110 km) E) is the geographical center of North America. From Minot, take US 2 east and drive for about one hour.
- The International Peace Garden (120 miles (190 km) NE) is on the Canadian border near Dunseith. From Minot, take US 2 to Rugby and turn north on ND 3, park is on left at border crossing.
- Lake Sakakawea (40 miles (64 km) S) provides ample water recreational opportunities. From Minot, take US 83 south and drive about half an hour, US 83 crosses the lake. The cities of Garrison and New Town have boater services.
- 4 Bears Casino near New Town (60 miles (97 km) SW) has a wide variety of entertainment. From Minot, take US 83 south about 15 minutes, then turn west at ND 23 and drive about 40 minutes.
Nearby
Burlington
City / town · 5 listings · 7 mi away
Douglas
City / town · 6 listings · 28 mi away
Max
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Garrison
City / town · 35 listings · 41 mi away
Towner
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Kenmare
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Stanley
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Antler
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