NORTH DAKOTA TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to North Dakota! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to North Dakota.
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North Dakota remains sparsely populated to this day, but there's still plenty of interesting attractions in the state. For badlands-style scenery, head to the western part of the state and spend a few days exploring the two major units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. While in the western region, take a drive to see the giant metal sculptures along the Enchanted Highway. If you're interested in Lewis & Clark history, you'll find several great museums and attractions that highlight their epic journey within the state. Some of the best roadside attractions are also found in North Dakota, including the World's Largest Turtle and the World's Largest Buffalo.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in North Dakota? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in North Dakota, in no particular order:
✮ Engage in history at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
✮ See the impressive Gol Stave Church at Scandinavian Heritage Park
✮ Go backpacking or horsepacking on a portion of the 96-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ Cycle the Greenway of Greater Grand Forks
✮ Drive the Petrified Forest Loop in Theodore Roosevelt National Park to see beautiful badlands scenery
✮ Catch the Medora Musical, a famous live song-and-dance show in Medora (near Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
✮ Go bird-watching at the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge in either spring and fall
✮ Stop at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, one of the premier Lewis & Clark sites in the U.S.
✮ Photograph the scrap metal roadside attractions along the Enchanted Highway in the southwestern part of the state
✮ Take a selfie with the world's largest buffalo in Jamestown
If I could select only one place to visit in North Dakota, I would choose Medora so that I could visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in North Dakota. I believe each of these attractions should be on your North Dakota bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern North Dakota
✮ Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Williston - visit a partially reconstructed fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River
✮ Little Missouri State Park, Killdeer - remote park along the Little Missouri River; great badlands scenery with 45 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails
Southwestern North Dakota (including Medora and both units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
✮ Bully Pulpit Golf Course - one of the finest public golf courses in the country
✮ Enchanted Highway - take a 32-mile drive past the world's largest collection of scrap metal sculptures
✮ Maah Daah Hey Trail - hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride a section of this outstandingly scenic and wild 144-mile single-track trail
✮ Medora - North Dakota's best small town; the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
✮ Medora Musical, Medora - attend an excellent live song-and-dance show
✮ Medora Riding Stables, Medora - go horseback riding in the North Dakota badlands
✮ North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora - history museum focusing on cowboys, Native Americans, rodeos, and ranching
✮ Petrified Forest Loop, Theodore Roosevelt National Park - the #1 scenic drive in North Dakota
✮ Sully Creek State Park, Medora - attractive state park showcasing the North Dakota badlands
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park - beautiful badlands & great wildlife viewing; scenic drives and great hiking trails; the #1 ND attraction
✮ White Butte, Amidon - take a moderate hike to the highpoint of North Dakota
Northcentral North Dakota (including Minot)
✮ Geographical Center of North America, Rugby - a classic roadside attraction
✮ International Peace Garden, Dunseith - monument along the US/Canadian border that is flush with flowers and beautiful gardens
✮ J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Kramer - views hundreds of thousands of waterfowl in the spring or fall
✮ Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Stanton - visit a historic Native American trade center and hike past historic sites
✮ Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn - one of the best Lewis & Clark museums in the U.S.
✮ Scandinavian Heritage Park, Minot - tour buildings and see items and sculptures celebrating 5 different Nordic countries
✮ Tommy the Turtle, Bottineau - roadside attraction featuring the world's tallest turtle sitting on the world's largest snowmobile
✮ World's Largest Turtle/Wee'l, Dunseith - large, quirky roadside attraction of a giant turtle made out of wheel rims
Southcentral North Dakota (including Bismarck)
✮ Dakota Zoo, The, Bismarck - a good medium-sized zoo
✮ Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan - reconstructed historic forts & earth lodges
✮ Fort Mandan State Historic Site, Washburn - replica of a Lewis & Clark expedition fort
✮ Giant Cow statue / Salem Sue, New Salem - 38-foot tall fiberglass cow; a great photo-op
✮ North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, Bismarck - museum offering four galleries on North Dakota history
✮ State Capitol Building, Bismarck - visit the "skyscraper of the prairie"
Northeastern North Dakota (including Grand Forks)
✮ Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site, Cooperstown - excellent Cold War history site
Southeastern North Dakota (including Fargo and Jamestown)
✮ Bonanzaville USA, Fargo - a recreated pioneer village
✮ Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center / Fargo Woodchipper, Fargo - see the actual woodchipper used in the Hollywood movie Fargo
✮ Frontier Village, Jamestown - see a collection of original historic buildings
✮ Mario Wall, Fargo - take a photo with a large mural of the famous Mario video game by Nintendo
✮ National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown - interesting museum plus photo-ops with the world's largest buffalo statue
✮ Sheyenne National Grassland - visit a pristine tall-grass prairie
✮ Wahpeton Wahpper / World's Largest Catfish, Wahpeton - large, quirky roadside attraction
✮ World's Largest Buffalo, Jamestown - giant roadside attraction at the National Buffalo Museum
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in North Dakota? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NORTH DAKOTA
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These towns and cities in North Dakota are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Fargo - a medium-sized city with a few noteworthy museums and other attractions, such as the actual woodchipper used in the movie Fargo
✮ Medora - a small town that serves as the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park; don't miss the Medora Musical while in town
My favorite city in North Dakota is Fargo - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least one night there
My favorite small town in North Dakota is Medora - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
If you want to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park, stay in Medora.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS NORTH DAKOTA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that North Dakota is famous or well-known for:
✮ agricultural industries
✮ badlands
✮ Fargo movie and TV show
✮ Native American tribes and culture
✮ oil and gas industry
✮ prairies
✮ roadside attractions
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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There is one national park in North Dakota, plus a few other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Parks
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park - beautiful badlands & great wildlife viewing; scenic drives and good hiking trails
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
✮ Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
Theodore Roosevelt National Park has two major units (North & South) and one minor unit that sits in between them (Elkhorn Ranch). The South Unit is the largest, most popular, and closest unit to the gateway town of Medora. Both the South and North units have bison, prairie dogs, and other wildlife, but only the South Unit has wild horses. The scenery and hiking in all three units is excellent. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is very remote, and there are no services there. A 4-wheel drive and/or high-clearance vehicle is sometimes needed to visit the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
For more information on North Dakota's national parks, visit the North Dakota page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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STATE PARKS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota has 13 state parks. Many would agree that these represent North Dakota's finest state parks:
✮ Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan - see reconstructed historic forts & earth lodges
✮ Fort Mandan State Historic Site, Washburn - visit a replica of a Lewis & Clark expedition fort
✮ Little Missouri State Park, Killdeer - remote park along the Little Missouri River; great badlands scenery with 45 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails
✮ Sully Creek State Park, Medora - attractive state park showcasing the North Dakota badlands
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota only has one known natural waterfall, and it's a seasonal tiny stream (Mineral Springs Waterfall). It's not even worth looking at in my opinion.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in North Dakota:
✮ Enchanted Highway - a 32-mile paved route from Gladstone to Regent that passes several large and impressive scrap metal art sculptures
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park: North Unit Scenic Drive - a 14-mile paved route through the north unit of ND's only national park
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park: South Unit Scenic Drive - a 36-mile paved route through the south unit of ND's only national park
I haven't driven the Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway yet, but it's possible there's some decent scenery on that route.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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There is only one notable amusement park in North Dakota, and that is the Raging Rivers Waterpark in Mandan. It is fairly small though, especially in comparison to water parks found in other states.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota has a few good museums, including:
Western North Dakota (including Medora)
✮ North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Medora - history museum focusing on cowboys, Native Americans, rodeos, and ranching
Central North Dakota (including Bismarck)
✮ Dakota Territory Air Museum, Minot
✮ Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Stanton - visit a historic Native American trade center and hike past historic sites
✮ Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn - one of the best Lewis & Clark museums in the U.S.
✮ North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, Bismarck - museum offering four galleries on North Dakota history
Eastern North Dakota (including Fargo and Jamestown)
✮ Fargo Air Museum, Fargo
✮ Plains Art Museum, Fargo
✮ Roger Maris Museum, Fargo
✮ Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site, Cooperstown - excellent Cold War history site
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BEST DAY HIKES IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota only has a few notable hiking trails. The best day hikes in North Dakota include:
Western North Dakota
✮ Birnt Hills Trail, Little Missouri National Grasslands
✮ Caprock Coulee Trail loop, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
✮ Jones Creek Trail, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
✮ Petrified Forest Loop, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
✮ White Butte
✮ Wind Canyon Trail,
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
Central North Dakota
✮ Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park trails
✮ Grassland Trail, J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge
Eastern North Dakota
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail: From Iron Spring Creek to County Rd 23, Sheyenne National Grasslands
The highpoint of North Dakota is White Butte (3,506') in western North Dakota. A moderate day hike is required to reach the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in North Dakota include:
✮ Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST)
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is the premier long-distance backpacking trail in North Dakota. There are currently 16 trailheads along the route. The trail is much more popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders, but hikers and backpackers do utilize the trail.
Backpacking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park requires a permit, but they are easy to get and currently unlimited. Visit the backpacking page of the NPS site for more information.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota offers a few great outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ Backpacking the North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Backpacking in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
✮ Backpacking in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Missouri River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Mouse River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Pembina River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Red River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Sheyenne River
✮ Cycling the Greenway of Greater Grand Forks
✮ Day hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ Day hiking in Petrified Forest National Park
✮ Fishing or ice-fishing on Devils Lake
✮ Horseback riding at Little Missouri State Park
✮ Horsepacking the Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ Mountain biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ Skydiving in West Fargo
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SKI RESORTS IN NORTH DAKOTA
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North Dakota only has a few small ski areas. None of them are nationally significant. The largest and best ski area is the Huff Hills Ski Area. It has 16 runs with a 450' vertical drop.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NORTH DAKOTA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in North Dakota:
✮ caramel rolls
✮ cheese buttons
✮ chokecherries
✮ juneberries
✮ knoephla soup
✮ lefse potato crepes
✮ rhubarb pie
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in North Dakota (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in North Dakota (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY NORTH DAKOTA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about North Dakota:
State Capital:
Bismarck
Major Airports:
None; the largest airport is Hector International Airport in Fargo, but it's relatively small
Largest Cities:
Fargo (130,078), Bismarck (76,092), Grand Forks (60,432), Minot (49,875), West Fargo (41,186), Williston (32,048), Dickinson (27,257)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-29, I-94
State Highpoint:
White Butte (3,506') in Chalky Butte in southwestern North Dakota; a moderate day hike is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Zap
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Mario Wall in Fargo, North Dakota
the actual wood-chipper used in the Hollywood movie Fargo is held in the Fargo Visitor Center
Fargo, North Dakota
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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