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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Roseau, Minnesota
Skip unless you're a Polaris fan or need a border stop: half a day for the park and drive-in, then move on.
Roseau is a small town 10 miles from Canada, home to Polaris Industries and a gateway to Lake of the Woods. Most travellers pass through on the way to the Northwest Angle or Manitoba. A half-day covers the city park and a meal at the seasonal drive-in.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (snow, cold)
- Stay
- 0–1 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 $60–90 · Mid $90–150 · High $150+ (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 at drive-in | $8–12 |
| Motel room per night | $70–150 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TVF · Thief River Falls Regional
- About 1 hour drive; limited flights.
- GFK · Grand Forks International
- About 2 hours drive; more connections.
Typical fares
- Grand Forks to Roseau (drive)
- about 2 hours, ~$15 gas
- Thief River Falls to Roseau (drive)
- about 1 hour, ~$8 gas
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; no public transit. ATVs and golf carts are common but not encouraged for safety.
See and do
Known for
- Polaris Industries headquarters
- Gateway to Lake of the Woods
- Annual county fair
- Earl's Drive In (seasonal)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Woods | Drive north on MN-313 to Warroad, then east; about 30 min | About 30 min |
| Warroad | Drive north on MN-313; about 30 min | About 30 min |
| Thief River Falls | Drive south on US-59; about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Grand Forks | Drive south on US-59 then US-2; about 2 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Downtown Roseau
- A few motels and inns; book ahead in summer.
- Warroad
- 30 minutes north; more options near Lake of the Woods.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
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 driving can be hazardous; check road conditions.
- Earl's Drive In is seasonal (summer only).
- Cell service may be spotty near the border.
Very safe; standard rural precautions. Winter driving is the main risk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Roseau, Minnesota yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Polaris Industries headquarters
- Gateway to Lake of the Woods
- Annual county fair
- Earl's Drive In (seasonal)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Roseau official website: www.city.roseau.mn.us
- Wikivoyage: Roseau (Minnesota), revision 5296486 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296486
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Roseau, Minnesota
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 the primary language; no phrase book needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/roseau-minnesota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.