In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Stanley
Stanley, North Dakota
Skip unless you need a bed on US 2 between Williston and Minot. Half a day: the Pioneer Museum and a meal at Joyce's Cafe.
Stanley is a small town on US 2 in western North Dakota, population 1,458. It has a local museum, a couple of diners and two chain hotels. Most travellers use it as an overnight stop between Williston and Minot, or as a base for hunting and fishing in the nearby lakes and badlands.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Stanley, North Dakota
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, snow)
- 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 $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–180 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 911 · 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 at Joyce's Cafe | $2–3 |
| Burger and fries | $10–15 |
| Mexican combo plate | $12–18 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
| Hotel room (Mainstay Suites or Microtel) | $90–160 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- XWA · Williston Basin International Airport
- About 30 min west on US 2; rental cars available.
Typical fares
- Williston Airport (XWA) → Stanley
- about 30 min by car; rental car or taxi (check)
- Stanley → Minot
- US 2 east, about 1 h 15 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
Stanley is walkable along Main Street. A car is needed for any sight outside town.
See and do
Known for
- Pioneer Museum
- US 2 stopover
- Hunting and fishing access
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Williston | US 2 west, about 30 min | 30 min |
| New Town | ND 23 south, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit) | US 2 west to Watford City, then ND 23 south, about 1 h 15 min | 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- US 2 corridor
- Mainstay Suites and Microtel Inn & Suites are near the highway; walk to Joyce's Cafe and the museum.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
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: US 2 can be icy or closed in blizzards; check road conditions.
- No public transport within town or to nearby towns.
- Restaurants close early; Joyce's Cafe closes at 3 PM on Saturday.
Stanley is a low-crime small town. The main risks are winter weather and wildlife on the highway at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Stanley yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pioneer Museum
- US 2 stopover
- Hunting and fishing access
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: Stanley (North Dakota), revision 5241316 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241316
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/stanley-north-dakota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.