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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Garrison
Garrison, North Dakota
Give Garrison one night as a Lake Sakakawea base: Fort Stevenson State Park, the dam tour and the Guardhouse fill a day; two nights if you fish.
Garrison is a town of about 1,450 people on US 83 in the Lakes and Gardens region of North Dakota, 40 miles south of Minot and roughly 70 miles north of Bismarck. It is a lake town, not a sightseeing city: the draw is Fort Stevenson State Park on Lake Sakakawea, the Garrison Dam, and walleye fishing. Most travellers pass through on US 83 or stop for one or two nights between Minot and Bismarck. A car is effectively required.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Garrison, North Dakota
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (ice, snow, many services closed)
- 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 $70–110 excl. bed · Mid $110–180 excl. bed · High $180+ 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Diner breakfast | $8–14 |
| Supper-club dinner (steak or walleye) | $18–35 |
| Draught beer in a bar | $4–7 |
| Gallon of petrol | $3–3.60 |
| State-park camping, per night | $17–30 |
| State-park cabin, per night | $60–70 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MOT · Minot International
- About 40 miles north via US 83; Delta serves it. The closest useful airport.
- BIS · Bismarck Municipal
- About 70 miles south via US 83; Delta, United and Allegiant serve it.
- N60 · Garrison Municipal Airport
- City-run civil aviation field; no scheduled passenger service.
Typical fares
- Minot → Garrison by car
- about 40 miles on US 83, 45–55 min
- Bismarck → Garrison by car
- about 70 miles on US 83, 1 h 20 min
- Garrison → Garrison Dam by car
- about 30 miles on ND 200, 40 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
A car is the practical way to move: sights sit along US 83, ND 37 and ND 1804, and the dam is about 30 miles southwest on ND 200. Souris Basin Transportation runs a local dial-a-ride service and monthly buses to Minot and Bismarck, but you must call before 4PM Central the day before. New Town Bus Lines runs Minot–Bismarck daily except Wednesdays and Saturdays and will only stop in Garrison with a prior reservation.
See and do
Known for
- Fort Stevenson State Park and Lake Sakakawea
- Garrison Dam and Power Plant
- Walleye fishing
- Camp Atchison State Historic Site
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Stevenson State Park | Drive ND 37 and county roads to the north shore of Lake Sakakawea | About 15–20 min (check) |
| Garrison Dam and Power Plant | Drive ND 200 southwest | About 40 min |
| Camp Atchison State Historic Site | Drive south of Garrison on county roads | About 20–30 min (check) |
| Minot | Drive US 83 north | About 45–55 min |
| Bismarck | Drive US 83 south | About 1 h 20 min |
Sleep
- In town (Main Street and Central Avenue)
- Motel and B&B rooms within walking distance of the cafés and bars; best if you want a bed and a meal without driving.
- Fort Stevenson State Park and the lake shore
- Camping and cabins on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea, about 10 minutes from town; best for fishing and boating trips.
- Highway 37 corridor and RV parks
- RV hook-ups and campgrounds east of town near the golf course; best for self-contained road trips.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the boat ramp? | Where is the boat ramp? |
| Is the dam tour running today? | Is the dam tour running today? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| How far is the lake from here? | How far is the lake from here? |
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
- Distances are long and cell coverage is patchy outside town: fill the tank in Garrison or Minot before heading to the lake.
- Winter brings ice, snow and wind; some campgrounds and seasonal businesses close from late October to May.
- Bus service is reservation-only and runs on set days: confirm by phone the day before, or you have no ride.
- Lake Sakakawea levels and boat ramps vary by season: check current conditions before launching.
Garrison is a small, low-crime town and feels safe day and night. The real risks are driving: long empty highways, deer at dusk, winter ice and storms on Lake Sakakawea.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Garrison yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fort Stevenson State Park and Lake Sakakawea
- Garrison Dam and Power Plant
- Walleye fishing
- Camp Atchison State Historic Site
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fort Stevenson State Park (North Dakota Parks and Recreation): www.parkrec.nd.gov/fort-stevenson-state-park
- Camp Atchison State Historic Site (State Historical Society of North Dakota): www.history.nd.gov/historicsites/sibleysully/atchison.html
- Garrison Dam and Power Plant tours (North Dakota Tourism): www.ndtourism.com/riverdale/family-fun/garrison-dam-and-power-plant-tours
- Wikivoyage: Garrison (North Dakota), revision 5239808 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239808
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
GarrisonGarrison, North Dakota
Please take me to this address
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire and ambulance911
No embassies in Garrison; consulates and embassies are in larger US cities. For lost passports, contact your country's nearest consulate — check the address before you travel.
Small-town services: many businesses keep short or seasonal hours. Call ahead.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/garrison-north-dakota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.