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
Towner
Skip Towner unless you need a fuel or meal stop on US-2 between Minot and Devils Lake: 15 minutes, not a destination.
Towner is a 574-person town on US-2 in north-central North Dakota, calling itself the 'Cattle Capital of North Dakota'. It has a convenience store, a municipal airport and little else for a traveller. Most people pass through in under 20 minutes. The area was settled in 1884 and named after a Confederate soldier, Oscar Towner.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (bitter cold, snow)
- 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 $0 (passing through) · Mid $0 (passing through) · High $0 (passing through) (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 |
|---|---|
| Gas (regular, per gallon) | $3.20–3.80 |
| Coffee at Cenex | $1.50–2.50 |
| Hot dog or snack at Cenex | $3–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- D61 · Towner Municipal Airport
- General aviation only; no commercial flights
Typical fares
- Minot → Towner (US-2 east)
- 43 miles, about 40 min by car
- Devils Lake → Towner (US-2 west)
- 76 miles, about 1 h 10 min by car
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
By car only; the town is walkable in 10 minutes but there is no public transport.
See and do
Known for
- Cattle Capital of North Dakota
- US-2 stop between Minot and Devils Lake
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Minot | US-2 west, 43 miles by car | About 40 min |
| Rugby, North Dakota | US-2 east then north on ND-3, about 30 miles by car | About 35 min |
| Devils Lake | US-2 east, 76 miles by car | About 1 h 10 min |
Sleep
- No accommodation in town
- Closest lodging is in Minot (43 miles west) or Rugby (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much for gas? | How much for gas?how much for gas |
| Where is the nearest hotel? | Where is the nearest hotel?where is the nearest hotel |
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
- No hotel, no restaurant besides Cenex gas station (check hours).
- Winter driving on US-2 can be hazardous: check road conditions.
- Cell service may be patchy west of town.
Very low crime; the main risk is winter driving and limited services.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Towner yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cattle Capital of North Dakota
- US-2 stop between Minot and Devils Lake
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: Towner, revision 3510207 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3510207
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Towner
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada (check). For consular services, contact the US Department of State.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/towner). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.