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Back to Staples

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Voykit pocket guide · United States

Staples

Spend a half day in Staples, then continue to larger towns; one night if you want to stay at the Landmark Inn.

Staples is a small town in northwestern Minnesota on US‑10 and the Amtrak Empire Builder line. Its main attractions are the local cinema and a few cafés. A few hours are enough for a quick visit; stay overnight only if you need a rest stop on a longer road trip.

New YorkAbbeville, LouisianaAbbeville, South Caro…AbercrombieAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAbernathyAbilene, KansasAbileneAbington TownshipAbiquiuAbita SpringsStaples500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
United States
Best months
Jun–Aug
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 $30–$50 excl. bed · Mid $50–$80 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 / 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

ItemPrice
Coffee at Spot Café$2–$3
Pizza slice at Tower Pizza$3–$5
Movie ticket at Staples Cinema$8–$10
Gasoline (per litre)$0.95–$1.10

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

FAR · Hector International Airport
About 1 h 30 min east by Amtrak (Staples → Fargo).

Typical fares

Amtrak Staples → St. Paul
about $120 one‑way, check schedule
Car rental day
≈ $45–$70, check local rates
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 on US‑10 or MN‑210; Amtrak Empire Builder stops at Staples station (hourly service). Walkable town centre for cinema and cafés.

See and do

Known for

  • Staples Cinema
  • Spot Café
  • Landmark Inn (former church)

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Fargo, NDAmtrak eastbound, about 1 h 30 min≈2 h total
St. Paul, MNAmtrak eastbound, about 2 h≈3 h total
Duluth, MNCar east on MN‑210, ~1 h 30 min≈2 h total

Sleep

Landmark Inn
Former church building, central location.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryExcuse meexcuse me
Thank youThank youthank you
How much is it?How much is it?how much is it
Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom?where is the restroom

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

  • Amtrak station hours are limited (12:45 am–4:30 am); plan around the train schedule.
  • Winter weather can close roads; check local forecasts.

Staples is a low‑crime small town; main risks are winter road conditions and limited night services.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Staples yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Staples Cinema
  • Spot Café
  • Landmark Inn (former church)

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Staples

To this address, please

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police / Fire / Ambulance911

US citizens: 911 for emergencies; nearest consulate in Minneapolis.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/staples). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.