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Voykit pocket guide · United States
East Grand Forks
Skip unless you need a cheap bed near Grand Forks or a Bass Pro Shops stop on US 2. Half a day covers the river walk and a meal.
East Grand Forks is the small Minnesota sibling of Grand Forks, North Dakota, rebuilt after the 1997 Red River flood. Its main draws are a riverfront path, a giant Bass Pro Shops and a few local eateries. Most travellers use it as a budget sleep base or a quick stop on US 2.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (bitter cold), Apr (flood risk)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–140 excl. bed · High $140+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Pizza (Mike's, large) | $15–22 |
| Burger and beer at Blue Moose | $18–25 |
| Coffee at Bernie's | $3–5 |
| Motel room (East Grand Inn) | from $55 |
| Gas (per gallon) | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GFK · Grand Forks International Airport
- About 15 min drive; served by Delta and Allegiant
Typical fares
- GFK airport → East Grand Forks
- taxi about $25–35, 15 min
- East Grand Forks → Grand Forks (downtown)
- taxi about $15–20, 10 min
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. The town is compact but spread along US 2; no useful public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Red River State Recreation Area
- Bass Pro Shops (former Cabela's)
- Mike's Pizza
- Blue Moose Bar & Grill
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND | 5 min drive across the bridge | 10 min |
| Crookston | US 2 east, about 25 min | 30 min |
Sleep
- Gateway Drive (US 2)
- Motels and the East Grand Inn; walkable to a few restaurants, car needed for anything else.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hihi |
| Thank you | Thanksthanks |
| How much is it? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where's the restroom?where's 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
- Red River flood season (April): check road closures if visiting then.
- Winter temperatures can drop below −20°C; pack layers and gloves.
- The Bass Pro Shops is a former Cabela's — same store, different sign.
Very safe. The main risks are winter cold and drunk drivers on US 2 late at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for East Grand Forks yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Red River State Recreation Area
- Bass Pro Shops (former Cabela's)
- Mike's Pizza
- Blue Moose Bar & Grill
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: East Grand Forks, revision 5120313 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5120313
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
East Grand Forks
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
English only; no language barrier.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/east-grand-forks). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.