Overview
Rugby is a city in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota, with a population of about 2900 people. It is located about halfway between Minot and Devils Lake.
1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rugby
Spirit Lake Casino
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. (climate data from nearby Minot)
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 — 53 mi away. Directions
- MOT Minot International Airport, Minot — 59 mi away. Directions
US Highway 2 runs along the south side of town. West about 60 miles is Minot. East about the same distance is Devils Lake. US 2 crosses Interstate 29 in Grand Forks.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
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.
Get in
By car
US Highway 2 runs along the south side of town. West about 60 miles is Minot. East about the same distance is Devils Lake. US 2 crosses Interstate 29 in Grand Forks.
North Dakota Highway 3 runs North to Dunseith and the International Peace Garden. Brandon, on Trans-Canada 1, is about 2 and a half hours from Rugby.
By train
- Route stopping at Rugby:
- 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. Eastbound trains arrive daily about 7AM. Westbound trains arrive about 11PM.
Get around
If you come into town by train, you'll have to walk or hitch around town. There isn't any public transport, taxi service, or car rental. Not that this can be a bad thing if, say, you had a rail pass and wanted to spend a day in small-town North Dakota.
However, the more timid may want to take the train to Minot, rent a car, and circle back.
See
The Geographical Center of North America cairn, at the intersection of US 2 and ND 3. The actual center of the continent is some 6 miles west of nearby Balta, but you really have to be a stickler to get there.
Do
Do Spirit Lake Casino
Buy
Rugby has a number of small shops, mostly located downtown, which is around the train station, and about 2 miles north of Highway 2.
Shop Leevers Foods
Eat
Drink
Drink I.C. Dubbles Downtown Lounge
Sleep
Stay Oakwood Inn & Campground
Nearby
Balta
City / town · 2 listings · 14 mi away
Towner
City / town · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Belcourt
City / town · 4 listings · 21 mi away
Mylo
City / town · 1 listings · 25 mi away
Dunseith
City / town · 7 listings · 31 mi away
Anamoose
City / town · 12 listings · 35 mi away
Cando
City / town · 8 listings · 37 mi away
Churchs Ferry
City / town · 1 listings · 37 mi away
My experience
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