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Major city · United States

Devils Lake

Give Devils Lake one full day plus a night: fish or drive the lake loop, then White Horse Hill and Fort Totten. Skip it as a base without a car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for water and driving; Jan–Feb for ice fishing
avoid Nov–Mar for lake activities unless you are ice fishing; spring and summer thunderstorms
Airport
DVL
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Devils Lake is a town of about 7,100 people in North Dakota's Lakes and Gardens region, built around the state's largest natural lake — roughly 120,000 acres of water and 375 miles of shoreline. It is a fishing, birding and ice-fishing stop on US Highway 2 and the Amtrak Empire Builder, not a sightseeing city. One night covers the lake, White Horse Hill and Fort Totten; anglers and hunters stay longer.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Devils Lake, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–4
  • Sit-down mealBurger or steak dinner$14–30
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$8–14
  • BeerBeer in a bar$4–7
  • Museum or sight ticketLake Region Heritage Center admission$3, seniors $2
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$130
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$110
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Devils Lake (North Dakota's largest natural lake)Walleye, pike and perch fishingWhite Horse Hill National Game PreserveFort Totten State Historic SiteIce fishing and snowmobiling
Airports
DVL Devils Lake Regional Airport (About 2 miles west of town on Highway 19; United Express service to Denver via Jamestown — check current schedules and days.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Devils Lake: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−8°C

−18°C

6 rd

Feb

−6°C

−16°C

5 rd

Mar

1°C

−9°C

6 rd

Apr

11°C

−1°C

7 rd

May

19°C

6°C

9 rd

Jun

24°C

12°C

10 rd

Jul

27°C

15°C

9 rd

Aug

27°C

14°C

8 rd

Sep

21°C

9°C

7 rd

Oct

12°C

2°C

6 rd

Nov

2°C

−7°C

6 rd

Dec

−6°C

−15°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is close to essential: the lake, state parks and Fort Totten are 7–17 miles out of town and there is no useful public transport. US Highway 2 runs through the south of the city — Minot about 2 hours west, Grand Forks about 1.5 hours east. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at 350 Railroad Avenue, but the station is unstaffed. Scenic drives east and west of town follow Highway 2.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive Highway 20 south about 11 miles toward Fort Totten

$2 per car, $12 annual pass; drive-through only, stay in the vehicle, closes at sunset.

Fort Totten State Historic Site

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive Highway 20 south past White Horse Hill

Pair it with White Horse Hill in one afternoon; check seasonal hours.

Grahams Island State Park

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Highway 19 west about 10 miles, then 6 miles south

Camping, fishing and boat access on the lake.

Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

About 7 miles east of town, 5 miles south, then 3 miles west

Quiet recreation area; roads can be rough after rain.

Rugby

go

Door to door: About 1 h

US Highway 2 west, about 60 miles

Geographic centre of North America marker; useful if you are heading to Minot.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

US Highway 2 strip

Motels and the Holiday Inn Express on the east side of town; easiest with a car and closest to the highway.

Downtown / 4th Street

Walkable to the Lake Region Heritage Center, cafés and bars; a short drive from the lake.

Highway 19 west (lake side)

Woodland Resort and Lakeview Lodge; pick this if you are here to fish or launch a boat.

Spirit Lake Casino & Resort

About 7 miles south on Highway 57; rooms, marina and 24-hour casino, so no drive back into town at night.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × US$110US$110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Car rental, one day1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
Fuel, about 100 km of local driving1 × US$12US$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10US$20
Fishing licence, non-resident day2 × US$15 · checkUS$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$49
Trip total≈ US$271 per person per day, bed includedUS$541

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices before sales tax. Flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–4
Diner breakfast$8–14
Burger or steak dinner$14–30
Beer in a bar$4–7
Gallon of fuel$3–4 (check)
Lake Region Heritage Center admission$3, seniors $2
White Horse Hill entry, per car$2, or $12 annual pass

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, quiet town and generally safe for visitors. The genuine risks are weather and distance: winter storms, fast summer thunderstorms on the lake, and long drives with patchy phone signal. Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight as anywhere.
  • Distances are long and winter driving is the real risk: snow, ice and whiteouts close roads; check the state road report before setting out.
  • White Horse Hill closes at sunset and shuts when thunderstorms or snow are forecast within about 48 hours — hours are conservative, so call ahead.
  • Cell coverage is patchy around the lake and on back roads; download offline maps.
  • Summer storms arrive fast on the water; watch the forecast before going out in a small boat.
  • The Amtrak station has no ticket agent; buy online or board with a reservation.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Devils Lake Police (non-emergency)
701-662-5323
North Dakota road conditions
511

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Devils LakeDevils Lake

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Devils Lake Police (non-emergency)701-662-5323
  • North Dakota road conditions511

Embassy

No embassies here; they are in Washington, DC. For passport help, your country's nearest consulate is likely in Minneapolis or Chicago — check before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Amtrak Empire Builder, Devils Lake → Minot: check current fares and times; one daily train each way
  • Taxi or rideshare in town: short hops, about $8–15 (check availability)
  • Fuel, Devils Lake → Grand Forks and back: about 150 miles round trip

Say or show

  • Where is the boat launch? — Where is the boat launch?
  • Do you have a room for tonight? — Do you have a room for tonight?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is the lake from here? — How far is the lake from here?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Devils Lake. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for water and driving; Jan–Feb for ice fishing · avoid Nov–Mar for lake activities unless you are ice fishing; spring and summer thunderstorms · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources