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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Dickinson
Use Dickinson as a 1‑night Badlands gateway; fly in, see Theodore Roosevelt National Park, return same day or stay one night.
Dickinson is a small western North Dakota town that serves as the main entry point to the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The town has limited attractions itself, so most visitors spend a night here to access the park and return the next day. One to two days is enough.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, snow may close roads)
- Stay
- 1–2 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 excl. bed · Mid $80–$120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–$4 |
| Burger meal | $8–$12 |
| Beer (draft) | $4–$6 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | $15–$20 |
| Gas (1 gal) | $3.50–$4.00 |
| Theodore Roosevelt NP entry | $25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DIK · Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport
- United Express nonstop to Denver (check schedule).
Typical fares
- DIK → Dickinson downtown (taxi)
- ≈ $15–$20 (check)
- Car rental (economy, 1 day)
- $60 (check)
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
Car is essential; rent at the airport (Dollar, U‑Save) or local taxis (Dakota Cab). No public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Dickinson Museum Center & Badlands Dinosaur Museum
- Ukrainian Cultural Institute
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit) | Rent a car, drive 30 km (19 mi) west on ND‑11 (≈30 min).Rent a car, drive 19 mi (30 km) west on ND‑11 (≈30 min). | ≈1 h total |
| Badlands (South Unit) via Medora, ND | Drive 120 km (75 mi) south on I‑94 then US‑85 (≈1 h 45 min).Drive 75 mi (120 km) south on I‑94 then US‑85 (≈1 h 45 min). | ≈2 h total |
| Pioneer Machinery Building (Museum Center) | Walk 5 min from downtown. | 5 min |
Sleep
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Central Dickinson, good for park trips.
- Roosevelt Grand Dakota, SureStay Collection
- Close to I‑94, mid‑range price.
- Nodak Motel
- Budget option, $55/night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
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
- Winter storms can close I‑94; check road conditions.
- Public transport does not exist; plan a rental or shuttle.
- Airport flights are limited; verify United Express schedule.
Dickinson has low violent‑crime rates; keep an eye on personal belongings in public areas and watch road conditions in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Dickinson yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Dickinson Museum Center & Badlands Dinosaur Museum
- Ukrainian Cultural Institute
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Dickinson: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Dickinson, revision 5237412 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5237412
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Dickinson
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulates are in Bismarck (ND) and Fargo (ND).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/dickinson). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.