Travel to SIL-UND

Grand Forks is located on the eastern edge of North Dakota, 80 miles north of Fargo and about 90 miles south of the Canadian border.

Travel by car

Most people take either I-94 or I-29 into Fargo, and drive north from there to Grand Forks. Some come from the east or west on U.S. highway 2. For driving directions to Grand Forks and SIL-UND, see the separate information for participants.

If you want to share a ride to Grand Forks with someone, we have an online ride board available. For security purposes, details on how to access it are sent only to confirmed participants. (See contact information to ask for these details.)

Air travel

Air travel into Grand Forks is relatively expensive because Delta Airlines is the primary carrier that flies there (from Minneapolis/St. Paul).  United has recently started offering 1-2 flights each day from Denver.  Allegiant Airlines provides limited service (a few flights a week) from Las Vegas NV and Mesa AZ. You may want to check into some of the following alternatives. (Verify all details for yourself; they may have changed. If you do find changes, please let us know.)

Check into flying into other nearby airports. The closest is Fargo (80 miles south), which is served by a choice of airlines; there is both bus and train service available from Fargo to Grand Forks (see below). You might need to take a taxi from the airport to the bus or train station in Fargo. Or, arrange a ride on our ride board (see above).  

The nearest major airport in the U.S. is Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP). The selection of airlines and flights is much greater, and you can take the train or bus from there to Grand Forks, or arrange a ride on our ride board. Combined cost can sometimes be considerably less than flying direct to Grand Forks. You might need to take a taxi from the MSP airport to the train or bus station, although there are a few Greyhound/Jefferson and city buses that stop at the airport.

Canadians may prefer to fly into Winnipeg, Manitoba, which is about 3 hours north of Grand Forks.

Train and bus

Amtrak train service serves Grand Forks once per day each direction (eastbound and westbound). The trains stop during the night, but don't let that bother you; we're used to it.

Bus service to Grand Forks is provided by Jefferson Bus Lines. You can also book trips through Greyhound Bus Lines which connects with Jefferson Lines in Minneapolis and other terminals. Ticket agents may tell you that the bus stops on the UND campus, but in the summer it stops only in the bus station downtown, about two miles away.

Local travel from public transport to campus

Once you get to Grand Forks, SIL-UND is able to pick you up at the airport, bus or train station for a nominal fee (see costs). (We are sorry that we cannot provide this service outside of Grand Forks, however.) If you are interested, contact us with details of date and time of arrival, mode of transport, and where you're coming from (including airline and flight number, if applicable).