Alvarado is a small rural community located just 18 miles north of Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the intersection of Highways 1 and 220. There is a city park with camping sites, water, sewer, electricity, bathroom, playground equipment, and picnic shelter. A skating rink with warming house is available in winter. Snowmobiling is an important winter sport.
The public school is 11 miles away in Warren, MN. Oslo, MN is 6 miles to the west, along the Red River of the North.
Four churches serve the city, New Hope Lutheran, Alvarado Baptist, and St. Joseph Catholic. There are also a number of other churches in the surrounding area.