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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Cartwright
Skip Cartwright unless you are a dedicated ghost-town or tunnel explorer: the only tunnel in North Dakota is here, but there is no food, fuel or lodging. A 30-minute stop on a Badlands road trip is enough.
Cartwright is a ranching hamlet of about 30 people on the Yellowstone River, best known for the Fairview Lift Bridge and Cartwright Tunnel — the only tunnel in North Dakota. There are no public eateries, shops or hotels. It works as a 30-minute photo stop if you are driving ND-200 between Sidney (MT) and Watford City.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (snow and cold)
- 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 US$0 (no services) · Mid US$0 (no services) · High US$0 (no services) (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 911 · Fire and 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 (per gallon) | US$3.50–4.50 |
| Coffee at a gas station | US$2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SDY · Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport
- About 15 min drive southwest in Sidney, MT; general aviation only. Commercial flights use Williston (XWA) or Dickinson (DIK).
Typical fares
- Sidney, MT → Cartwright
- about 15 min, no public transport
- Watford City → Cartwright
- about 35 min, no public transport
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. Cartwright has no public transport. ND-200 runs through town; the bridge and tunnel are 2 miles west.
See and do
Known for
- Fairview Lift Bridge and Cartwright Tunnel
- Only tunnel in North Dakota
- Yellowstone River views
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fairview Lift Bridge and Cartwright Tunnel | Drive 2 miles west on ND-200; park at the pull-off | 5 min |
| Sidney, Montana | Drive 11 miles southwest on ND-200 | 15 min |
| Watford City | Drive 30 miles east on ND-200 | 35 min |
Sleep
- Sidney, Montana
- 11 miles southwest; the closest town with motels and services.
- Watford City
- About 30 miles east on ND-200; more lodging and dining options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| Where is the tunnel? | Where is the tunnel?where is the tunnel |
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, food or lodging in Cartwright — fill up and eat before you arrive.
- The tunnel is unlit and unpaved inside; bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.
- Cell service is spotty along ND-200 west of Cartwright.
Very low crime; the main risks are wildlife on the road (deer, cattle) and the unlit tunnel interior. Watch for loose rocks inside the tunnel.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cartwright yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fairview Lift Bridge and Cartwright Tunnel
- Only tunnel in North Dakota
- Yellowstone River views
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: Cartwright (North Dakota), revision 4357988 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4357988
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cartwright
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada; consulates in Calgary and Vancouver. For domestic travel, no embassy needed.
No services in Cartwright; plan ahead.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cartwright-north-dakota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.