Fargo

For other places with the same name, see Fargo (disambiguation).

Fargo is a charming western city of just over 100,000 in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. As the biggest city for more than 200 miles (350 km) in any direction, it's a cultural hub for the region, and its lively, walkable downtown is full of old-fashioned architecture and friendly cafes.

Many people relate Fargo to the eponymous 1996 Coen Brothers movie starring Oscar-winner Frances McDormand and William H. Macy, though none of the movie was filmed in Fargo. Neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota is across the river from Fargo and the area is generally referred to as Fargo-Moorhead.

Understand

Fargo Theatre

Fargo is named after William G. Fargo, one of the founders of American Express and Wells Fargo.

Climate

Fargo
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.6     15 −3       0.5     21 3       1     34 17       1.7     54 32       2.3     69 44       3.1     77 54       3.2     83 59       2.4     81 57       1.8     70 46       1.5     57 35       0.8     36 19       0.6     21 4 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       15     −9 −19       13     −6 −16       25     1 −8       43     12 0       58     21 7       79     25 12       81     28 15       61     27 14       46     21 8       38     14 2       20     2 −7       15     −6 −16 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Tourist information

• The 1 Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center features the original woodchipper from the notorious scene in the movie Fargo, as well as an exact replica. There's other memorabilia on display too, and a gift shop.

Get in

By plane

Fargo's tiny 1 Hector International Airport (FAR  ^IATA) is served by Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, and United with flights to Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, and Dallas. The airport only has five gates but there are a few food options, mostly outside of security. North Dakota souvenirs are also sold outside security (including local jams in containers too big to take through TSA – unclear how that's supposed to work).

There are no buses to the airport, so if you're not renting a car or having a someone pick you up, your main ground transportation option is taxi/Uber/Lyft.

If you can't find a decent flight and want to get creative, the nearest major airport is Minneapolis–Saint Paul, about four hours from Fargo by car or five hours by bus.

By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States

• 2 Fargo railway station, 420 4th St N. The station is nearby downtown, with many restaurants and bars nearby. In the summertime, food trucks are found by the station. (updated May 2020)

Amtrak's Empire Builder serves this station daily on its route between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. Unfortunately, arrival time is in the middle of night, about 2:30AM, and delays are quite common on this route too.

By bus

• 3 Jefferson Lines, ☏ +1 858-800-8898. Jefferson Lines provides bus service to Fargo from cities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. They have three stops in the Fargo-Moorhead area: Fargo (NDSU) at 1201 University Drive N, Fargo (Jefferson Lines) at 1211 41st St N, and Moorhead (MSU - Comstock) at 615 14th Street S, Moorhead. Check all three as different buses serve different stops and the main Fargo (Jefferson Lines) stop is way out on the outskirts of town. (updated Jul 2024)

By car

Fargo is at the intersection of Interstate Highways 29 and 94. It's about 230 miles northwest of the Twin Cities on I-94, about a three-hour and twenty minute drive.

Get around

Fargo has maintained a charming and very walkable downtown area, which is also within tolerable walking distance of downtown Moorhead across the river.

Matbus bus transportation is available Monday–Saturday to most parts of the city and to Moorhead, but not to the airport. Parking around Fargo is plentiful, even on the main thoroughfares in downtown areas.

Uber and Lyft operate in the area.

See

Two interesting landmarks in the surrounding are the KVLY-TV mast and the KXJB-TV mast, which were the tallest towers on earth until the construction of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

• 1 Fargodome, 1800 N University Dr, ☏ +1 701 241-9100. Offers athletic events (most notably North Dakota State football games), broadway shows, music concerts. During some concerts 1/4 of the population fits inside the Fargodome.  
• Roger Maris Museum, 3902 13th Ave (West Acres Mall (at I-29)). open year-round. Museum of the baseball player Roger Maris, who went to high school in Fargo and went on to play for the New York Yankees. Free. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway, ☏ +1 701 239-8385. The Fargo Theater show mostly independent films, on actual film, not digital. Inside the theatre there is a statue of Marge Olmstead Gunderson, of the movie Fargo carved out of wood, also inside on the stage is a functional Wurlitzer pipe organ that is occasionally used to score silent films.  
• 3 North Dakota State University.  
  • North Dakota State Bison. The university's sports teams, competing in eight men's and eight women's sports, mostly in the Summit League. The most prominent program by far is the football team, a major power at the Division I FCS (second) level, including nine national championships in 11 seasons (2011–2015, 2017–2019, 2021); it plays in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most Bison teams play on campus, including the football team (the Fargodome is owned by the city, but the underlying land is owned by the university and part of the campus). Football games frequently sell out, but tickets for other sports are easier to find. Tip to fit in with the locals: the "S" in "Bison" is locally pronounced with a "z" sound instead of the "s" sound found in most other American English dialects. 
• Plains Art Museum, 704 First Ave, ☏ +1 701 232-3821. Daily 11AM-5PM. Surprisingly interesting contemporary art museum. Free admission. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Fargo Air Museum, 1609 19th Ave N, ☏ +1 701-293-8043, communication@fargoairmuseum.org. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Museum focused on aviation history and machinery. Closed on all major holidays such as Easter, July 4, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Years Day. Some days may be booked for private events, so refer to the website in advance. Adult $15; student, military, veteran, or senior $12; child (5-11) $10; children under 4 free. (updated Sep 2023)
• Children's Museum, 1201 28th Ave (Yunker Farm). 
• Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (Newman Outdoor Field, NDSU campus). Minor league baseball. While you are there, check out the Maury Wills Museum. 
• 5 Horse Racing, 5180 19th Ave N (North Dakota Horse Park), ☏ +1 701 277-8027. Season is from early August to mid-September.  
• 6 Red River Zoo, 4220 21st Ave SW, ☏ +1 701 277-9240. Open daily May to October, weekends only rest of year. Has red pandas.  

Do

• 1 Thunder Road Family Fun Park. Go-kart racing, batting cages, adventure golf. Open May–September. ,
• 2 Sky Zone Fargo. 
• Celebrity Walk of Fame, 2001 44th St. SW (Exit 348 Interstate 94), ☏ +1 701 282-3653. The walk where more than 100 celebrities have left their marks in cement. Stars from music, the arts, politics, and sports, like: Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond, KISS, Maury Wills, Debbie Reynolds, and Governor Jesse Ventura, have left their signatures, handprints and footprints. No fee. 
• Vietnam Week, 1609 19th Avenue North. Dedicated to Vietnam era. 
• Scheels Fargo Marathon (Civic Center). 
• 3 Bill's Gun Shop & Range, 1040 35th St N, ☏ +1 701-353-8748. M–Sa 10AM–8PM, Su 10AM–5PM. Indoor gun range with a huge variety of firearms available to rent for target shooting. The staff is friendly, helpful, and happy to teach beginners, so even if you've never touched a gun before, you'll be welcomed. High-quality eye and ear protection is essential and available for sale. Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes are required. Make sure to fill out the online waiver on their website, and be prepared to give them your ID to hold on to while you're on the range. (updated Aug 2024)
• 4 Pixeled Arcade and Beerhall, 1100 NP Ave N #101. M–Th 5–10PM, F 5PM–midnight, Sa 3PM–midnight, Su noon-6PM. Popular arcade and bar with a range of old-fashioned coin-operated video games. Minors are only allowed on Sundays and must be accompanied by someone 21+. They have token machines if you don't happen to have lots of quarters with you. (updated Aug 2024)

Buy

Fargo has many interesting boutique and specialty style shops downtown.

• 1 West Acres. Fargo shopping means the million square foot West Acres, featuring Sears, JC Penney and Macy's plus a hundred other stores. During and post construction West Acres was colloquially referred to by residents as "Wasted Acres" as it was built on farm land. 
• 2 Red River Market, 201 Broadway. Saturdays 10AM–2PM, mid-July until mid-October. Lively downtown farmers market with produce, meals, and family-oriented entertainment. (updated Aug 2024)

Eat

Budget

• Grand Junction, 3051 25th St S, ☏ +1 701 364 9421. Daily 11AM-8PM. East Coast Style Subs serves hot subs grilled fresh right in front of you. A local favorite. Try the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich, very delicious. (updated Jul 2024)
• Boppa's Bagels, 3051 25th St S, ☏ +1 701 241-7800. M-F 8AM-3PM, Sa Su 8AM-2PM. Boppa's Bagels makes wonderful bagels, of note are their speciality bagels, that are also available at some coffee shops around the city. (updated Jul 2024)
• 1 Brewhalla, 1702 1st Ave N. 10AM–8PM daily. Indoor market with several food stalls. Also has an attached hotel. (updated Aug 2024)
• Los Vaqueros Taqueria, 3001 13th Ave S, ☏ +1 701 232-0645. 11AM-9PM. Mexican restaurant offering authentic dishes and drinks. Friendly staff and nice decor inside. Free. (updated Sep 2024)

Mid-range

• Passage to India, 855 45th St S a3, ☏ +1 701 281-0277. Tu-F 11:30AM-8PM. An excellent Indian buffet place. A flavourful and delightful selection from soup to dessert is available. (updated Jul 2024)
• Himalayan Yak, 1109 38th St S, ☏ +1 701 251-4939. Offers excellent Greek and Italian food. 
• 2 Würst Bier Hall, 630 1st Ave N, ☏ +1 701 478-2437. German-style restaurant and bar. Extensive list of local and exotic sausages (including two that are vegetarian and vegan), soft pretzels, and a variety of other German dishes. The drink menu has lots of beers and a few cocktails. Also has a location in West Fargo. Under $30 for sausage, beer, and a side. (updated Aug 2024)

Splurge

• Maxwells Restaurant & Bar, 1380 9th St E, West Fargo, ☏ +1 701 277 9463. M-Sa 4PM-10PM. Unprepossessing exterior, but fine dining inside. (updated Jul 2024)

Drink

Maybe it's the combination of bitterly cold winters and Scandinavian cultural heritage: Fargo has an incredible number of coffee shops per capita, especially in the downtown area.

While you're in the area, see if you can try the local soft drink Flannel Fizz, sold in a several unique flavors at the Red River Market and some local restaurants.

• Babb's Coffee House, 604 Main Ave, ☏ +1 701 271 0222. M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 9AM-6PM. A fantastic independent coffee shop located across the street from the Fargo Theater downtown. Also serves breakfast and lunch with vegan options. Credit cards are accepted for a $0.25 surcharge. (updated Jul 2024)
• Bismarck Tavern, 522 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 235 6607. 9AM-2AM. The PBR is always cold, all the whiskey drinks are doubles, and pull tabs litter the dirty floor. This downtown Fargo watering hole is Fargo's best dive bar. Black jack tables, off-sale liquor, pool, and pinball are available. (updated Jul 2024)
• Dempsey's Public House, 226 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 235 5913. 4PM-2AM. Traditional Irish pub. Free popcorn, karaoke, and a side room with various amenities. Upstairs of Dempsey's is The Aquarium, a live music venue featuring bands of every musical style, but usually punk or other hardcore. (updated Jul 2024)
• Blarney Irish Pub, 101 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 478 8888. M-F 11AM-1AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su 10AM-1AM. Irish pub inside the Hotel Donaldson bar featuring pub food as well as beers and ales on tap. (updated Jul 2024)
• Rooters Bar, 107 Broadway N (Down Broadway on the left-hand side of the block before 1st Ave.), ☏ +1 701 235 4082. M-Sa 4PM-2AM. Bar made up of two different buildings with the center wall removed, and bars on each side. Equipped with darts, pool, and a blackjack table. Mostly serves drinks and the only food is microwaved pizza. It has a great location and a large interior. No entry fee. (updated Jul 2024)
• Fort Noks Bar of Gold, 52 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 478 9191. M-F 4PM-2AM, Sa Su noon -2AM. Sports type bar with daily specials varying. Lots of tables as well as a blackjack table. No fee. (updated Jul 2024)
• Empire Liquors, 424 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 235 4705. 8AM-11PM. Despite its name, the Empire is also a dive bar. The door on the left is the liquor store and the door on the right is the bar. (updated Jul 2024)
• Cowboy Jacks, 506 Broadway N, ☏ +1 701 532 1802. 11AM-2AM. Bar with two floors, including a rooftop lounge. Usually has a live DJ and has a long bar with lots of tables. Free. (updated Jul 2024)
• Sports Bar, 619 Northern Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 701 293 2085. M-Sa 3PM-2AM, Su noon-2AM. This bar is a narrow and well lit bar on the south side of downtown. Happy hour M-F 4:30PM-6:30PM with a dice roll dictating your options. (updated Jul 2024)

Sleep

Great variety of hotels and motels ranging from budget to luxury. Major national chains like Motel 6, Comfort Inn, Best Western, Howard Johnson's, Ramada, Radisson, Courtyard by Marriott, and Travelodge all have Fargo locations.

In addition, you may rent rooms from $300 per month or less. There are signs everywhere and some interesting residential hotels scattered about.

Budget

• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fargo 19th Ave/Airport Dome, ☏ +1 701 404-9564. 
• C'Mon Inn, ☏ +1 701 277-9944, toll-free: +1-800-334-1570. 
• Lindenwood Park Campground, ☏ +1 701 232-3987. 

Mid-range

• AmericInn Lodge and Suites, ☏ +1 701 237-1634. 
• Best Western Plus Kelly Inn & Suites, 1767 44th St S, ☏ +1 701 282-2143. 
• Candlewood Suites Fargo-N. Dakota State Univ, 1831 NDSU Research Park Dr N, ☏ +1 701 235-8200, toll-free: +1-888-226-3539. 
• Country Inn & Suites, ☏ +1 701 234-0565. 
• Fairfield Inn by Marriott, ☏ +1 701 281-0494, toll-free: +1-800-228-2800. 
• Holiday Inn Express, ☏ +1 701 282-2000. 
• Holiday Inn, ☏ +1 701 282-2700, toll-free: +1-877-282-2700. 
• MainStay Suites, 1901 44th St SW, ☏ +1 701 502-4041. 
• Fargo Inn & Suites, 1025 38th St S, ☏ +1 701 282-6300. 
• Red Roof Inn Fargo - I-94/Medical Center, 1921 44th St SW, ☏ +1 701 281-8240, toll-free: +1-800-905-7533. 
• Wingate Inn, ☏ +1 701 281-9133, toll-free: +1-800-228-1000. 

Splurge

• Hotel Donaldson, 101 Broadway, ☏ +1 701 478-1000. A beautiful experience. The Donaldson has only 17 rooms, each featuring original works by a Plains artist. It was immaculately renovated in 2003. Room decor is modern. Amenities include flat screen cable TV, rooftop spa and high speed internet access. Outstanding personal service includes complimentary gourmet breakfast bar in the morning and wine and cheese bar in the early evening. 
• La Maison des Papillons B&B, ☏ +1 701 232-2041, toll-free: +1-888-273-3380. 
• Radisson Blu Fargo, 201 5th St N, ☏ +1 701 232-7363, toll-free: +1-800-333-3333. (updated Aug 2023)
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo, 1635 42nd St SW, ☏ +1 701 277-9000. 

Stay safe

Fargo is a safe city, with little violent crime, however, use common sense especially when it comes to personal property, just as you would anywhere else. The only area in which a person would need to be on the look-out is downtown on the weekends, especially during the school year. With the many colleges and bars it makes for an unpredictable experience.

Occasionally, crimes such as carjackings and assault happen around the NDSU campus, but these events are few and far between. Be wary of your surroundings like anywhere else.

The region is known for bitterly cold winters. Be sure to have appropriate attire, and know the forecast ahead of time for the day. If you need to drive, learn how to drive in snowy and icy road conditions, and follow weather warnings. It will save you a lot of headaches.

Connect

There is free wireless internet access in the food court at the West Acres Shopping Center.

Most coffee shops and even a few bars also offer free wireless internet access.

• High Plains Reader The source for what is happening in the city, an alternative newspaper that from the start was doomed to fail due to the small population of the city, but has since lasted over 10 years and remains as strong as ever. Free.
• KNDS 96.3, Radio for Everyone. NDSU's own radio station, that thanks to the extreme flatness of Fargo can broadcast about the whole metro area on a low power FM dial. (updated Sep 2024)

Go next

• West Fargo and Moorhead are right next to Fargo, and Moorhead in particular has some interesting museums.

Routes through Fargo

Minot ← Grand Forks ←	W  E	→ Detroit Lakes → St. Paul
Grand Forks ← Argusville ←	N  S	→ Jct W E → Hankinson → Sioux Falls
Bismarck/Minot ← West Fargo ←	W  E	→ Moorhead → Minneapolis
END ← West Fargo ←	W  E	→ Moorhead → St. Paul