The Ultimate North Dakota Vacation Guide

Things to do in Western North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

No visit to western North Dakota is complete without experiencing Theodore Roosevelt National Park, considered by many to be the state's crown jewel. This stunning park encompasses over 70,000 acres of colorful badlands, winding rivers, and diverse wildlife. The park is divided into three “units”: the easily accessible South Unit near Medora, the more remote North Unit near Watford City, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit where Teddy Roosevelt himself once lived.

Visitors can drive the scenic 36-mile loop road through the South Unit and witness breathtaking vistas of the Painted Canyon and the Little Missouri River. Make sure to keep your camera ready for potential encounters with free-roaming bison, wild horses, elk, prairie dogs, and mule deer. There’s another 14-mile scenic drive through the North Unit which features hiking trails like the Caprock Coulee Nature Trail.

This is a landscape that helped shape the indomitable spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, America's 26th president. The park offers an engaging experience for both nature lovers and history buffs.

The City of Medora

The ever-charming town of Medora serves as the perfect base for exploring the western side of North Dakota. This historic frontier town comes alive each summer with the legendary Medora Musical, performed every night from June through September in the Burning Hills Amphitheatre. The show celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025, featuring 20 singers and dancers, six horseback riders, and six national music acts. The outdoor production combines country-western music, patriotic themes, dancing, live horses, and a spectacular fireworks finale.

Before the show, enjoy the unique Pitchfork Steak Fondue, where 12-ounce steaks are skewered on full-size pitchforks and cooked western-style, served with traditional barbecue sides including baked potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, and garlic toast.

The Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, the preserved summer home of the Marquis de Mores, is another must-see. This 26-room, two-story building was built in 1883 and now functions as a historic house museum containing many original furnishings of the de Mores family. Touring the home drops visitors directly into the daily life of a 19th century frontier family.

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Located just thirty minutes west of Williston, the Fort Union Trading Post was heralded as the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River between 1828 and 1867. Sitting beside the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, this reconstructed fort tells the fascinating story of the fur trade between Northern Plains tribes and American traders.

Many Northern Plains Indian tribes, including the Crow, Cree, Assiniboine, and Dakota Sioux, exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world. During its peak, Fort Union Trading Post trading over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise annually. A staff of well-informed park rangers are there to help visitors understand the history and significance of this peaceful famed trading post.

Lake Sakakawea

Lake Sakakawea is the third largest man-made lake in the United States, with more coastline than the entire state of California! This massive reservoir stretches 180 miles

through central and western North Dakota, offering endless opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. The lake is particularly renowned for walleye, northern pike, and chinook salmon fishing.

Lewis and Clark State Park, located about 30 minutes from Williston, sits on the upper bay of Lake Sakakawea and features the largest native mixed-grass prairie in any North Dakota State Park, along with hiking trails, beaches, and a marina that offers kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals.

The Enchanted Highway

On I-94, sandwiched between the towns of Gladstone and Regent in southwestern North Dakota, lies a stretch of interstate known as The Enchanted Highway. This 32-mile drive is dotted with giant metal statues that rise up out of the prairie, including massive pheasants, deer, grasshoppers, fish, and more. The most impressive is a 110-foot-tall grasshopper at mile 15. The Enchanted Highway makes for a fun and quirky roadside adventure.

Things to do in Central North Dakota

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Located near Stanton, ND, this National Historic Site preserves the history and culture of the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples. The site sits on an ancient Native American village that was last occupied in 1845 and features a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to preserving Native American culture, along with a reconstructed ‘earthlodge’ containing authentic artifacts.

The museum showcases the sophisticated lifestyle of the Northern Plains Indians, including their agricultural practices, trade networks, and permanent earthlodge villages. This is coincidentally also where Lewis and Clark first met the famous Sakakawea, who would become the expedition’s guide moving westward. The site also has a web of walking trails where you can still see physical evidence of the ancient earthlodges.

Bismarck: North Dakota’s State Capitol

North Dakota's capital city of Bismarck is located in the heart of the state, offering visitors a taste of history and culture. The North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum houses a collection of Plains artifacts second only to the Smithsonian's, with displays on the state's military and agricultural history, as well as dinosaur exhibits. The adjacent State Capitol building, nicknamed the "Skyscraper of the Prairie," is a 21-story art dec masterpiece with 360° observation deck on the 19th floor.

Lastly, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, set beside the banks of the Missouri, displays artifacts from the many tribes that famous explorers encountered, with a special focus on the Mandan culture. The expedition famously wintered with the Mandan people during the winter of 1804-05. The center is just 45 minutes north of Bismarck in the town of Washburn.

The City of Jamestown

Jamestown is located about halfway between Bismarck and Fargo on I-94 and is home to The National Buffalo Museum, which features the world's largest buffalo sculpture. The 26-foot tall concrete monument is named "Dakota Thunder” and can be spotted from I-94. The museum itself focuses on teaching visitors about the history of bison in America and the species' near-extinction and miraculous recovery. Behind the museum, a live bison herd grazes, including rare albino bison.

Another Jamestown destination is Frontier Village, an authentic recreation of an 1880’s Western town, lined with original buildings including a trading post, dentist office, barber shop, and frontier cabin. On select summer weekends, Frontier Village hosts exciting Wild West shootout performances.

Things to do in Eastern North Dakota

The City of Fargo

With a population of ~140,000, Fargo is North Dakota's largest city. A local favorite, The Plains Art Museum highlights regional and national contemporary art in a beautifully restored warehouse downtown. Bonanzaville USA is another sprawling museum complex that preserves over 40 historic buildings and tells the story of the North Dakota’s pioneer heritage.

Of course, film buffs will appreciate that the famous woodchipper from the movie "Fargo" is displayed at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center, in celebration of the Coen Brothers' classic film.

Scandinavian Heritage Park

Located in “The Magic City” of Minot, this outdoor museum celebrates the heritage of the five Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Out-of-town visitors may not know, but many of the state’s early settlers were of Scandinavian descent and almost 40% of current North Dakota residents claim Nordic ancestry.

Guests can explore a Finnish sauna, Danish windmill, and a 240-year-old log house from Norway, among many other authentic structures and exhibits. The park beautifully represents the Scandinavian ethos which has helped to shape North Dakota's culture.

International Peace Garden

Last, but most definitely not least— the Internation Peace Garden. Straddling the border between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada, this 2,400-acre garden is a symbol of the relationship between the United States and Canada. During the warmer months, the gardens bloom with thousands of flowers, while the acreage also includes prairies, forests, and lakes. First opened in 1932, the International Peace Garden is what gives North Dakota it’s designation as the “Peace Garden State.”

Planning Your North Dakota Adventure

North Dakota's wide-open spaces, uncrowded attractions, and friendly communities make it the perfect destination for travelers seeking authentic travel experiences in the Midwest. We hope this guide serves you well on your next big North Dakota adventure.

If you’re looking for your next home in North Dakota, then give us a visit here in Williston! The Reserve at Bison Crossing offers spacious and well-designed 1, 2, and 3 bedroom floor plans fitted with open-concept kitchen layouts, energy efficient appliances, granite-inspired countertops, and a private patio or balcony. Residents also gain access to a professional fitness center, two outdoor playgrounds, and well-maintained lawns and landscaping. Schedule an in-person or virtual tour and discover your next home in the adventure-filled state of North Dakota.