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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Max
Skip unless you have a specific reason (rodeo, hunting, or camping on Lake Sakakawea). A 30-minute stop for a meal or a photo is enough.
Max is a tiny North Dakota town (pop. ~280) on US 83, 30 miles south of Minot. It has a café, a bar, a rodeo grounds, and a campground near Lake Sakakawea. Most travellers pass through without stopping; it works as a quick lunch break or a base for hunting/fishing on the lake.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (rodeo, camping, lake)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited services)
- 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 $30–50 (camping, self-catering) · Mid $80–120 (B&B, café meals) (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 at Centennial Cafe | $2–4 |
| Lunch special at Centennial Cafe | $8–12 |
| Camping at Max City Camper Park | $10 per night |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MOT · Minot International Airport
- About 30 miles north via US 83; rental cars available.
Typical fares
- Minot Airport → Max (taxi or rideshare)
- about $40–60 (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
You need a car. Everything is on or just off US 83.
See and do
Known for
- Max Rodeo
- Lake Sakakawea access
- Centennial Cafe
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Minot | US 83 north, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Lake Sakakawea | About 10 miles south of Max | 15 min |
| Garrison, North Dakota | US 83 south, about 20 min | 20 min |
Sleep
- Max city centre
- One campground and one B&B; book ahead for rodeo weekends.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the café? | Where is the café? |
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
- Centennial Cafe hours may vary; call ahead.
- Max City Camper Park is open spring to fall only.
- No ATM in town; bring cash.
Very safe. Watch for deer on US 83 at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Max yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Max Rodeo
- Lake Sakakawea access
- Centennial Cafe
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Max official website: www.maxnd.com/
- Wikivoyage: Max, revision 4104706 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4104706
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Max
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no language barrier.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/max). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.