NDSU and UND in 2 Days: A Fargo and Grand Forks College Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota in two days: how each visit works, where to park, hotels from budget to upscale in Fargo and Grand Forks, drive times up I-29, sibling stops and seasonal weather, every fact sourced and checked Oct 29, 2026.
The bison statue and welcome sign at North Dakota State University, Fargo (March 2016). Photo: Brianna.glaus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND) · University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)
Days
2 days: NDSU on day 1, a drive of about 1 hour 20 minutes north, then UND on day 2.
Fly into
Hector International Airport (FAR) in Fargo, about 8 minutes from NDSU's visitor lot with no traffic. Grand Forks International (GFK) is about 27 minutes from UND if you'd rather fly home from there.
Best base
Candlewood Suites Fargo-N. Dakota State University for night 1 (NDSU lists it as adjacent to campus), then the Hilton Garden Inn Grand Forks - UND for night 2, about a 15-minute walk from UND's admissions office.
Car or transit
Rent a car: the two campuses are about 78 miles apart on I-29.
Registration
Book an NDSU weekday visit and a UND campus visit, each on the school's own registration page.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see North Dakota's two big public universities in one trip: North Dakota State University in Fargo and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, about 78 miles apart by road.
NDSU visitors park in the Memorial Union (MU) Lot with a free digital pass from the confirmation email. UND visits start at the Office of Admissions in the Gorecki Alumni Center, with visitor parking on the south side of the building.
Why this order
Day 1: an NDSU weekday visit pairs a student-led campus tour with an information session led by an admission counselor, and families can request an academic appointment.
Day 2: a UND weekday visit includes an admissions presentation, a 1-hour walking tour with a current student, and meetings with faculty or advisors when they can be arranged.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
NDSU: the average visit is about two hours (a 30–45 minute counselor meeting and about an hour of touring).
NDSU needs at least two weeks' notice to request an academic appointment, and it can't guarantee one. Each visiting student registers separately, and guests are welcome (list them when you register).
UND asks you not to finalize travel plans until its staff has confirmed your visit request. Faculty and advisor meetings aren't guaranteed.
Tour availability varies by season.
Winter: NDSU modifies its tour when the temperature is below zero, and if the university closes for weather, visits are canceled.
UND also offers Saturday visits on select dates at the Gorecki Alumni Center, plus virtual visits. NDSU has a virtual tour too.
2. The suggested 2-day drive
Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, and walking times use OpenStreetMap foot routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Drive times to NDSU are to the Memorial Union (MU) Lot, and to UND are to the Gorecki Alumni Center.
Arrival: fly into Fargo and check in by NDSU
Hector International Airport (FAR) → Candlewood Suites Fargo-N. Dakota State University
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.1 mi
Driving and walking
Rental car
Expedia lists a free airport shuttle at both the Candlewood Suites and the Radisson Blu Fargo, which is about 9 minutes from FAR with no traffic.
Day 1: North Dakota State University, then drive to Grand Forks
Candlewood Suites → NDSU (Memorial Union Lot)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.5 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
Candlewood Suites → Fargo Air Museum (1609 19th Ave. N.)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 min, 0.3 mi
Driving and walking
~5 min walk, 0.2 mi
NDSU (Memorial Union Lot) → Red River Zoo (4255 23rd Ave. S.)
Driving (no traffic)
~12 min, 6.1 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
NDSU (Memorial Union Lot) → Hilton Garden Inn Grand Forks - UND
Driving (no traffic)
~79 min, 78 mi
Driving and walking
Drive (I-29 north)
NDSU gives weekday visitors meal passes when the dining centers are open, so lunch on campus after the tour is easy.
Your check-in location is listed in your NDSU confirmation email.
Day 2: University of North Dakota, then fly home
Hilton Garden Inn → UND (Gorecki Alumni Center, 3501 University Ave.)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 0.8 mi
Driving and walking
~15 min walk, 0.7 mi
UND (Gorecki Alumni Center) → Grand Forks International Airport (GFK)
Driving (no traffic)
~27 min, 10.2 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
UND (Gorecki Alumni Center) → Hector International Airport (FAR)
Driving (no traffic)
~84 min, 78 mi
Driving and walking
Drive
Road construction has closed the intersection of North 42nd Street and Demers Avenue, so UND asks drivers to use its directions instead of relying only on GPS: from I-29, take Exit 141 (U.S. Highway 2 / Gateway Drive), not Exit 140, then Gateway Drive, North 42nd Street south, University Avenue, Strinden Road south and the Gorecki Visitor Parking Lot.
If you're flying home from Fargo, allow about an hour and a half for the drive back down I-29, plus time to return the rental car.
3. Campus by campus
The bison statue and welcome sign at North Dakota State University, Fargo (March 2016). Photo: Brianna.glaus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
First-year weekday visits run Monday through Friday and include a student-led campus tour plus an information session with an admission counselor on the application process, scholarships, financial aid and academics.
The tour covers classrooms, a residence hall, a dining center, the wellness center and the library. NDSU also offers specialty program tours on select dates.
Visitor parking
Most weekday visitors park in the Memorial Union (MU) Lot and display the free digital parking pass from the confirmation email. Weekend parking is free and needs no pass.
Don't park in spots set aside for administrators or special permits.
Getting there
The MU Lot is about 4 minutes by car from the Candlewood Suites, about 5 minutes from the Radisson Blu downtown and about 8 minutes from FAR with no traffic.
What to know
NDSU's lodging list includes the Candlewood Suites next to campus and the Radisson Blu downtown; ask for the NDSU rate when you book.
For athletics, the Office of Admission can't schedule athletic appointments and points families to gobison.com instead.
Contact
NDSU Office of Admission (Ceres Hall 114): ndsu.visit@ndsu.edu, 1-800-488-NDSU or (701) 231-8643.
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Visits and tours start at the Office of Admissions in the Gorecki Alumni Center, 3501 University Ave. Enter through the south doors.
Airport tours have been limited since May 1, 2025, while UND builds a Flight Operations Center due to open in 2027. A drive-by and a virtual airport tour are offered instead.
Visitor parking
Park in the Gorecki Visitor Parking Lot on the south side of the building and display your visitor permit.
Getting there
The Gorecki Alumni Center is about a 15-minute walk or 4-minute drive from the Hilton Garden Inn, about 8 minutes by car from Canad Inns and about 27 minutes from GFK with no traffic.
What to know
Transfer students should bring unofficial transcripts to their visit.
Contact
UND Office of Admissions: admissions@UND.edu or 701.777.3000.
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: a night by NDSU, then a night by UND
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickBudget
Candlewood Suites Fargo-N. Dakota State University
1831 NDSU Research Park Dr. N., Fargo, ND 58102
Why here
NDSU lists it as adjacent to campus, with an NDSU rate if you ask when booking. It's about 4 minutes by car from NDSU's visitor lot, a 5-minute walk from the Fargo Air Museum and about 6 minutes from FAR with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free airport shuttle, kitchens and free parking. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Downtown Fargo, and on NDSU's lodging list with an NDSU rate. It's about 5 minutes by car from NDSU's visitor lot and about 9 minutes from FAR with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free airport shuttle, the 84 Italian Steakhouse restaurant and a 24-hour gym. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
A Grand Forks option with a big indoor pool for younger siblings, about 8 minutes by car from UND's Gorecki Alumni Center with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists an indoor pool with a lazy river and waterslide, a free airport shuttle and a connection to the Alerus Center. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Sleep in Fargo the night you land and in Grand Forks after the NDSU visit, so the drive up I-29 (about 1 hour 20 minutes) happens on day 1 and you're a short walk from UND's admissions office on day 2. Ask for the NDSU rate at the Candlewood Suites or the Radisson Blu.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
On campus at NDSU
NDSU gives weekday visitors meal passes when the dining centers are open.
At the hotels
The Radisson Blu Fargo has the 84 Italian Steakhouse, and the Hilton Garden Inn Grand Forks has the Great American Grill, per their Expedia listings.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Fargo Air Museum
1609 19th Ave. N., Fargo, ND 58102
A 5-minute walk from the Candlewood Suites. Two hangars hold aircraft from a Wright Brothers flyer to an MQ-1 Predator, and most of the planes can still fly. It's open Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday, and it closes if 19th Avenue is shut for construction or a weather alert.
About 12 minutes by car from NDSU. This 34-acre, AZA-accredited zoo opened in 1999, and its animals include red pandas, Bactrian camels, Pallas cats and river otters. It's open daily.
At NDSU, display the free digital pass from your confirmation email in the MU Lot (no pass needed on weekends).
At UND, use Exit 141 off I-29, not Exit 140, while the North 42nd Street and Demers Avenue intersection is closed, and display your visitor permit in the Gorecki lot.
Flying in and out
FAR is about 6 minutes from the Candlewood Suites and about 8 minutes from NDSU's visitor lot. Flying home from GFK saves the drive back: it's about 27 minutes from UND, versus about 84 minutes to FAR, with no traffic.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Fargo Hector International Airport)
Spring: April averages about 54°F highs and 32°F lows, with about 1.5 inches of precipitation and about 4 inches of snow.
Summer: July averages about 82°F/59°F, with about 3.1 inches of rain.
Fall: October averages about 56°F/35°F, with about 2.2 inches of precipitation and about 1 inch of snow.
Winter: January averages about 18°F/0°F, with about 10 inches of snow. Pack real winter gear, since NDSU modifies tours when it's below zero.
Parent checklist
Register for an NDSU weekday visit, and request any academic appointment at least two weeks ahead.
Request a UND visit, and wait for UND's confirmation before booking travel.
Save NDSU's free digital parking pass from the confirmation email, and have UND's visitor permit ready to display.
Book flights into FAR (and home from FAR or GFK) and a rental car.
Book a night in Fargo and a night in Grand Forks, asking for the NDSU rate in Fargo.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
2 Division I
Athletics
North Dakota State University
NCAA Division I The Summit League
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Candlewood Suites Fargo-N. Dakota State University (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Fargo-Hotels-Candlewood-Suites-Fargo-N-Dakota-State-University.h1469242.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Radisson Blu Fargo (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Fargo-Hotels-Radisson-Blu-Fargo.h16495.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hilton Garden Inn Grand Forks - UND (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Grand-Forks-Hotels-Hilton-Garden-Inn-Grand-Forks-UND.h892045.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Canad Inns Destination Center Grand Forks (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Grand-Forks-Hotels-Canad-Inns-Destination-Center-Grand-Forks.h1713856.Hotel-Information)
