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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Alsen
Skip Alsen unless you have a specific reason to visit (family history, hunting at Lost Prairie Lodge). The town has about 35 residents, one seasonal museum and no restaurant or store.
Alsen is a tiny unincorporated community in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, founded by Danish and Norwegian settlers. It has a small museum open by appointment in summer and a hunting lodge. There is no café, gas station or grocery. Most travellers pass through on State Highway 66 without stopping.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (museum open, mild weather)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (bitter cold, museum closed)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 (camping or self-contained RV) · Mid $120–200 (Lost Prairie Lodge, meals from elsewhere) · High $250+ (hunting package or premium lodge) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Fuel (regular, per gallon) | $3.00–3.50 |
| Lost Prairie Lodge (per night, multi-person unit) | $150–350 |
| Alsen Museum entry | Free (donation suggested) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DVL · Devils Lake Regional Airport
- About 45 min drive south; limited commercial flights.
- GFK · Grand Forks International Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive; more flight options.
Typical fares
- Devils Lake → Alsen (car)
- about 45 min, 38 miles on ND-20
- Grand Forks → Alsen (car)
- about 1 h 45 min, 90 miles via US-2 and ND-20
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. Alsen has no public transport. The town is a few blocks along Main Street.
See and do
Known for
- Alsen Museum (summer only, by appointment)
- Lost Prairie Lodge (hunting and lodging)
- Danish and Norwegian settler heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Devils Lake | Drive south on ND-20, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Langdon | Drive north on ND-20, about 25 min | 25 min |
| Grand Forks | Drive south on ND-20 then US-2, about 1 h 45 min | 1 h 45 min |
Sleep
- Alsen itself
- Only Lost Prairie Lodge (hunting-oriented, multi-person units). No hotels or motels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HelloHello |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much? | How much?How much? |
| Where is the nearest gas station? | Where is the nearest gas station?Where is the nearest gas station? |
| I need help | I need helpI need help |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No fuel, no food, no ATM in Alsen. Fill up and stock supplies in Devils Lake or Langdon.
- Alsen Museum is open only July 1 – September 1, and by appointment only. Call +1 701 843-7032.
- Cell service may be spotty; download maps offline.
Very safe; crime is negligible. The real risk is winter driving on rural roads (ice, snow, limited daylight). Carry a winter emergency kit from November to March.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alsen yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Alsen Museum (summer only, by appointment)
- Lost Prairie Lodge (hunting and lodging)
- Danish and Norwegian settler heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Alsen, revision 4312695 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4312695
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Alsen
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
Nearest consulate services: Canadian consulate in Minneapolis; other countries' embassies in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/alsen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.