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35 Remarkable Things to Do in North Dakota Bucket List

During our road trip across the U.S. in our Airstream, we were determined to visit as many National Park units as possible. This had us venturing into North Dakota for the first time. Whenever we enter a new state, we usually put together a bucket list of things we want to do, so here’s our list of things to do in North Dakota!

35 Remarkable Things to Do in North Dakota Bucket ListPin

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Last Updated: June 25, 2020

35 Remarkable Things to Do in North Dakota Bucket List

  1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Explore the 70,000 acres of painted canyons at this National Park. You’ll find bison grazing along the road and noisy prairie dog towns.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Ultimate North Dakota Bucket List) // localadventurer.com
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Ultimate North Dakota Bucket List) // localadventurer.com
  1. Maah Daah Hey Trail in Theodore Roosevelt

This 98-mile trail connects the southern and northern units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You can hike, horseback ride, or bike through the rolling hills and rocky badlands. Keep your eye out for mule deer, coyotes, golden eagles, bighorn sheep and bison!

  1. The North Country National Scenic Trail

This trail connects 7 states from Eastern NY to central North Dakota. Don’t miss the gorgeous views of Pembina Gorge.

  1. Climb White Butte

Climb to the highest point in the state. Watch out for rattlesnakes!

  1. Petrified Forest (Western North Dakota Badlands)

See evidence for North Dakota’s ancient landscape though petrified trees, stumps, and logs. Did you know that North Dakota was covered by shallow seas or glacial ice for a lot of its geological past?

  1. International Peace Garden

This unique garden is half in the U.S. and half in Canada. The 2,300-acre garden is covered in beautiful flora and there’s even a conservatory with 3,000 cacti.

  1. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Fort Union was a pivotal fur-trading site from 1828 to 1867. You can do a self-guided tour, and you can chat with the living history actors. We really enjoyed and learned a lot from doing the Junior Ranger program here.

Fort Union Trading Post (The Ultimate North Dakota Bucket List) // localadventurer.com
Fort Union Trading Post (The Ultimate North Dakota Bucket List) // localadventurer.com
  1. Chateau de Mores State Historic Site

This 26 room hunting lodge was built in 1882 overlooking Medora. Although Marquis de Mores’ business venture failed, the town he named after his wife, Medora, prospered. The home still contains many of its original furnishings too!

  1. Drive the Chan Sansan Scenic Backway

Drive along this 32-mile scenic road to experience the beauty of the James River Valley. Keep your eye out for historic spots that give you a glimpse into the valley’s Native American and early settler life.

  1. Enchanted Highway

Large metal sculptures adorn the highway along this scenic drive. If you find any that you really love, you can buy miniatures of each statue at the gift shop in Regent.

  1. World’s Largest Manmade Turtle in Dunseith

George Gottbreht created the World’s largest man-made turtle from over 2,000 steel wheel rims in 1982. He used it to help promote his store, Dale’s Thrifty Barn, right next door.

  1. Medora Musical

This is a local favorite broadway-style musical in an open-air amphitheater set along the hills of Medora.

Medora Musical (Best Things to Do in North Dakota) // localadventurer.com
  1. North Dakota Heritage Center

Learn about the history of North Dakota from prehistoric times until till now. They just completed a massive renovation and expansion in 2014.

  1. Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center / Fort Mandan Historic Site

Stop along the route that Lewis & Clark traveled to check out exhibits, artifacts, and information about their amazing journey.

  1. Knife River Indian Villages

This is one of many National Park units in the US. The area has been home to a number of villages of the Prairie Indians and you can learn more about their history and culture.

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (Best Things to Do in North Dakota Bucket List) // localadventurer.com
  1. On-A-Slant Indian Village

Check out the five reconstructed earth lodges of this 400-year-old Mandan Indian Village. They were hunters and gardeners who lived in permanent villages and thrived for 200 years.

  1. Stay in an Authentic Earth Lodge

Get a truly unique cultural experience and stay in an authentic earth lodge.

  1. International Pow Wow in Bismarck

Join in on one of the largest pow wows in the US. This annual event that has been running for 47 years and brings multiple tribes together to celebrate their cultures.

  1. National Buffalo Museum

Learn everything there is to know about one of the most iconic animals of our country. Keep your eye out for White Cloud, the rare albino bison and the world’s largest buffalo.

  1. Dakota Zoo in Bismarck

See over 125 species and more than 600 animals at the Dakota Zoo, including mountain lions, moose, and grizzly bears.

  1. Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge

See one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans in North America at the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. It is also a breeding ground for other native birds and wildlife.

  1. Lake Sakakawea and Garrison Dam

This 609 square mile behemoth is the largest manmade lake that sits behind Garrison Dam. You can take tours of the dam or enjoy the water.

  1. Lewis and Clark State Park

Camp where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped! This is also a great spot for boating, swimming, and fishing for walleye, sauger, and northern pike.

  1. Lewis & Clark Riverboat

Take a relaxing ride down the river in a 150-foot paddle-wheeler boat. They even have lunch and dinner cruises. We were scheduled to do this, but unfortunately, it got canceled due to weather.

  1. Missouri River Kayaking

The Missouri River, also known as the “Big Muddy,” is becoming a destination for kayaking and canoeing. It offers beautiful scenery and a challenging paddle.

  1. Go Ice Fishing

Popular spots: Devils Lake, Icelandic and Lake Metigoshe State Parks, Lake Sakakawea, and Lake Audubon.

  1. Have Dinner at Pitchfork Steak Fondue in Medora

This was definitely more about the experience than the food itself.

Pitchfork Fondue Steak Cookout (Best Things to Do in North Dakota) // localadventurer.com
Pitchfork Fondue Steak Cookout (Best Things to Do in North Dakota) // localadventurer.com
  1. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Colonel George Custer served here before his death during the Battle of Little Bighorn. You can check out the rebuilt Custer House and partially recreated earth lodges that were inhabited by the Mandan native tribe.

  1. Scandinavian Heritage Park

Learn about the Scandinavian cultures, including countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. There’s a Danish windmill, a replica of the Gol Stave Church, and a Nordic-style visitor center.

  1. Plains Art Museum

Check out contemporary art and traditional American Indian art by regional and national artists. There are rotating exhibitions as well.

  1. Paul Broste Rock Museum

North Dakota has a ton of rocks and this Museum is a shrine to that. This museum stands alone on a treeless hilltop built entirely out of rocks. Check out its unique architecture and don’t forget to stop by the Infinity Room, the highlight of the museum.

  1. Little Missouri State Park

Most of this primitive park is accessible only on foot or on horseback but is worth the effort to see the unusual land formations and some of the most picturesque Badlands.

  1. Do a brewery tour or grab a local brew

The most popular ones are Laughing Sun Brewery, Fargo Brewing Company, Drekker Brewing Company, Rhombus Guys Brewing Company, and Souris River Brewing.

  1. Dakota Sun Gardens and Winery

Enjoy a glass of wine and relax in one of their many flower gardens or fruit plots. Afterward, find a seat on their front deck as you get another refill.

  1. Kroll’s Diner in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, and Fargo

Visit one of the various locations of this 50s-style restaurant and enjoy the German and American dishes. It has been around since 1972 and is known for its award-winning Knoephla Soup and hand-scooped shakes.

Map of the Best Things to Do in North Dakota

More Things to Do in North Dakota

If you’ve done all the above, here are some more ideas for your bucket list.

  1. Bagg Bonanza Farm Historic, Mooretown
  2. Bonanzaville, West Fargo
  3. Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson
  4. Fargo Air Museum, Fargo
  5. Fort Buford State Historic Site, Williston
  6. Killdeer Mountain Battlefield State Historic Site
  7. McKenzie County Heritage Park, Watford City
  8. Minot Air Force Base, Minot
  9. North Dakota Capitol Building, Bismarck
  10. North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks
  11. Pembina State Museum, Pembina
  12. Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site, Cooperstown
  13. Three Tribes Museum and Four Bears Bridge, New Town

Essential Tips

  • Best Time to Visit – May through October is the nicest time to visit. August, then March, and February are the busiest and will also have fewer hotel deals. IMO winter is way too cold to visit.

Are there any amazing things to do in North Dakota that we missed? How many of these have you checked out?

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Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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