# Williston (North Dakota)

Williston is a city on the Missouri River, near the northwestern corner of North Dakota, that is now experiencing explosive growth due to an oil boom. It is about 230 miles northwest of Bismarck - the state capital - by car. Williston is the county seat. Its population grew from 15,000 in 2010 to about 27,000 in 2018.

## Understand

Williston was founded as a Northern Pacific Railroad stop in 1887 and named for Daniel Willis James. It was chosen over the nearby town of Buford as the site of a turntable which led to its early growth. In 1951, oil was first discovered in the Williston Basin. Williston experienced rapid growth during its first oil boom in the 1980s. After the boom died down, the population shrank to about 13,000. Geologists have discovered 4.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Bakken Formation. The Three Forks Salish Formation also contains recoverable oil. With these discoveries, Williston experienced another oil boom and rapidly increased in size. While the rest of the country remained in a recession, Williston boasted a strong economy, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, plenty of jobs, and the highest wages in North Dakota. Following a sharp decline in oil prices in the second half of 2014, the boom ended (at least for the time being).
Despite this growth, Williston still maintains a small town atmosphere. Most residents are friendly and will happily give visitors directions.
Williston news and weather $^{[deadlink]}$.

## Get in
### By car

US Highway 2 runs east-west, intersecting with Interstate 29 in Grand Forks and Interstate 15 in Shelby, Montana.
US Highway 85 runs north-south, intersecting with Interstate 94 west of Dickinson.

### By plane

* 48.178056-103.6422221 Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN ). U.S. customs service is available to handle private flights from Canada.
** Delta Air Lines has nonstop service from Minneapolis/St. Paul.
** United Express has nonstop service from Denver.

### By train

    See also: Rail travel in the United States
* 48.14285-103.621152 Williston station, 1 S Main St. (updated Oct 2023)
** Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping at Williston:
*** Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, 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.

## Get around

* Basin Cab, 1804 2nd St W, ☏ +1 701-577-1957.

## See

* 47.9864-104.0011 Fort Buford Historic Site, ☏ +1 701 572-9034.
* 47.354167-101.3858332 Knife River Indian Villages.
* Cut Bluff Overlook. A historic sight about two miles (3 km) east of Williston on the south side of Highway 1804. Commemorating Lewis and Clark's campsite near Cut Bluff on the south banks of the Missouri River.
* 48.7808-103.8593 Writing Rock State Historic Site (12 miles northeast of Grenora), ☏ +1 701-572-9034. Free, donations welcome. The site of two granite boulders carved with petroglyphs of thunderbirds, mythical Native American creatures. Dates between 1000-1700 AD.
* 48.1156-103.2434 Lewis and Clark State Park, 4904 119th Rd NW, Epping (about 20 miles east of Williston on Hwy 1804), ☏ +1 701-859-3071. A beautiful park between rugged bluffs on the shore of Lake Sakakawea.
* 47.985-103.9895 Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center (One half-mile east of Fort Buford), ☏ +1 701 572-9034. (updated Oct 2017)

## Do

* 48.585018-103.4561761 Cottonwood Lake, off Cottonwood Lake Dr, Alamo (north of town). Fishing for pike and perch.
* Skunk Hollow Shooting Range (drive 5 miles south of Williston on Hwy 85, turn left onto gravel road and follow signs). Well-known by the locals, Skunk Hollow offers a rarely crowded shooting range, and excellent hiking, hunting, and fishing opportunities. 2 miles from Cut Bluff, the site of a campsite used by Lewis and Clark.
* 48.145938-103.6217532 Grand Theatre, 211 Main St, ☏ +1 701-572-2232. Catch the latest movie.
* Little Muddy Canoe Trail (east of Williston & North of 1804), toll-free: +1-800-615-9041. Thompson site and White Bridge are the access points. The trail is six miles long and travel time is 1½-2 hours.
* 48.161614-103.6252593 Strike Zone, 1804 2nd Ave. W, ☏ +1 701-572-3344. Bowling alley
* 48.201525-103.6187044 Spring Lake Park, 5906 2nd Ave W (North on Highway 85), ☏ +1 701-577-5141. Enjoy swimming, fishing, playground equipment, walking trails, and fireworks on the 4th of July
* 48.141324-103.6762335 Thunder Valley Go-Cart Track, 3510 W Dakota Pkwy (west of town on Highway 2), ☏ +1 701-770-0222.
* 48.154602-103.626666 Williston Skate Park, 11th St W (Harmon Park), ☏ +1 701-577-5141. Skateboarding, rollerblading, and biking
* 48.184303-103.6694587 Williston Municipal Golf Course, 3401 42nd St W (west of Williston on 26th Street), ☏ +1 701-774-1321. 9-hole course featuring a clubhouse, practice range, and trap range.
* 48.203981-103.6119778 Eagle Ridge Golf Course, 6401 3rd Ave E (north of Williston on Highway 2), ☏ +1 701-572-6500. Featured in the top 100 golf courses of America, this 18-hole course boasts a clubhouse, practice range and Italian restaurant
* 78th Annual Band Day, Main St. Parade starts at 10AM with bands from all over. Concerts and vendors are set-up in Harmon Park for an afternoon of music enjoyment and family fun.
* Hunting.
* Birding.
* Gaming, Williston State College Foundation Gaming at DK's Lounge, the River's Edge, the New 4-Mile Bar, Travel Host Lounge, Super 8 Lounge, Whispers, and the Sports Den.

## Buy

Downtown Williston offers many shopping opportunities.
* Hedderich's, 122 Main St, ☏ +1 701-572-1412. Offers antiques, locomotive sets, Native American artifacts, and a large selection of used books
* Books on Broadway, 12½ W Broadway, toll-free: +1-800-815-2665. Full line bookstore, gift items, greeting cards, mail service, special orders, specializing in regional history & unique children's books & toys, coffee bar.
* Second Page Books, 501 Main Street Suite #3, ☏ +1 701-770-0968. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Almost-new books: classics, fiction and non-fiction, large print, children's, audiobooks on tape & CD, textbooks and home school materials.
* Hansen's Unlimited Ceramics & Gifts, 113 1st Ave. E., ☏ +1 701-774-3966. Paint your own pottery to display or use.
* Castle Gift Shop, 313 Main St, ☏ +1 701-572-6722. Fenton art glass, crystal, & gifts.
* Cedar Chest, 201 Main St, ☏ +1 701-572-5977. Gifts and items for country-style decor.
* Collector's Corner, 109 Main St, ☏ +1 701-577-5252. Oak furniture, parlor stoves, general antiques, collectibles, furniture stripping & refinishing.
* Judy's Cupboard, 224 Main St, ☏ +1 701-572-0616. Kitchen items, Dakota made prducts and gift registry available.
* Larry Lynne Antiques, 10 West Broadway, ☏ +1 701-572-3586. M-Sa 11AM-5PM or by appointment. Quality antiques at affordable prices. A general line of furniture, glassware, pictures, etc.
* Silver Dollar Antiques, 10 1st Ave East, ☏ +1 701-774-8951. Tuesday & Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 11AM-5PM. Glass, Depression Glass, pottery.
* Plainsman Studio, 3 4th Street East, Suite 103, ☏ +1 701-572-1110, diana@plainsmanstudio.com. Tu-F 12:30-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. A photography gallery in the historic Plainsman Building. (updated Jan 2017)

## Eat

* Airport International Inn (Highway 2 & 85 North), ☏ +1 701 774-0241.
* Burger Queen & Pizza, 2516 2nd Ave West, ☏ +1 701 572-1840.
* China Sun, 1804 2nd Ave West, ☏ +1 701 572-3388.
* Courthouse Cafe, 205 E Broadway, ☏ +1 701 572-1754.
* Dakota Family Farms, 1906 2nd Ave West, ☏ +1 701 572-4480.
* Economart Lunch Counter, 300 West 11th St, ☏ +1 701 572-2927.
* Ginger's Cafe, 216 Main St, ☏ +1 701 774-9792.
* Gramma Sharon's Cafe, 150 16th St. West, ☏ +1 701 572-1412.
* Hedderich's Soda Shop, 122 Main St, ☏ +1 701 774-0152.
* The Lunch Box, 20 W Broadway, ☏ +1 701 572-8559.
* Pierce's Homesteak Dining Co., 18 2nd St West, ☏ +1 701 572-0030.
* Castle Cafe, 313 Main St, ☏ +1 701 572-6721.
* Trapper's Kettle, 3901 2nd Ave West, ☏ +1 701 774-2831.
* We Be Pizza, 819 West 11th St, ☏ +1 701 572-9323.

## Drink

* Avalanche Bar & Grill, 1002 2nd Street West, ☏ +1 701 774-2062.
* Chuck's Lounge, 218 Main St, ☏ +1 701 572-2679.
* Million Dollar Lanes/Sports Den, 1804 2nd Ave W, ☏ +1 701 572-3344. Bowling.
* P. Nuttz, 3712 4th Ave West (Williston Events Center), ☏ +1 701 572-7688.
* Travel Host Lounge, 2nd Ave. W, ☏ +1 701 774-0041.

## Sleep

The oil boom in Williston resulted in a severe housing shortage, but the situation has changed with the boom going bust. Many developments built to house workers during the boom now stand empty, and other developments were canceled. Booking a hotel room in Williston on short notice was difficult or impossible during the boom, with oil companies contracting with area hotels to house workers, but should now be considerably easier.
Most motels are either clustered downtown or near the airport at the northern limit of town.
* Best Value Inn, 213 35th St W, ☏ +1 701 572-4242.
* Country Garden Bed & Breakfast, 805 1st Ave West, ☏ +1 701 774-9643.
* El Rancho Motor Hotel, 1623 2nd Ave W, ☏ +1 701 572-6321. (updated Dec 2021)
* Marquis Plaza and Suites, 1525 9th Ave NW, ☏ +1 701 774-3250.
* Super 8 Lodge, 2324 2nd. Ave West, ☏ +1 701 572-8371.
* The Vegas, 2420 2nd Ave W, ☏ +1 701 572-2574.
* Travel Host Motel, 3801 2nd Ave. W, ☏ +1 701 774-0041.

## Stay safe

North Dakota has one of the lowest crime rates in North America, and Williston has one of the lowest of North Dakota. Most residents do not lock their doors, and in wintertime many people leave their cars running in parking lots as they run their errands.
Violent crime and rape are rare, and usually occur due to the influence of alcohol. However, women should use common sense when walking alone near bars at night. Most residents and police officers will pull over and offer rides to people walking at night or in the winter. The biggest threat are drunk drivers. If needed, the police can be reached at ☏ +1 701-577-1212.

## Go next

* Theodore Roosevelt National Park - The park includes badlands, open prairie, hard wood draws. It is home to bison, prairie dogs and many other wildlife species.