If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path adventure, you’ll find it in North Dakota! One of the least-visited states in the U.S., North Dakota often surprises visitors by its peaceful landscapes and untouched beauty. Start planning your trip with this North Dakota bucket list covering the best places to visit in North Dakota “The Peace Garden State”.

This Midwest state contains enchanting badlands as far as the eye can see, deep canyons, lush rolling prairies, and an abundance of wildlife within its borders.

From the wild landscapes of Theodore Roosevelt National Park to the charming towns that embody the spirit of the frontier, this hidden gem of a state offers an unforgettable experience for anyone seeking an authentic American adventure.

There’s a reason president Theodore Roosevelt was captivated by North Dakota and chose to have a home base here.

To find out why he loved this state so much, and to find out what the heck is actually in North Dakota, you have to go see it for yourself!

Here are the best places to visit in North Dakota. If you visit these top destinations you are guaranteed to have a fun and magical experience. Buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride!

North Dakota Bucket List

1. Discover Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The most popular destination in North Dakota is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Therefore it deserves to be at the very top of your North Dakota bucket list.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the national park system, but it does not mean it is the least beautiful.

On the contrary, TRNP is one of the most beautiful national parks in the system. Especially in the fall. Believe it or not, this national park is one of the best places to see fall colors in the USA.

This national park encompasses 70,000 acres of badlands, mountains, canyons, and the Little Missouri River.

Within the park is an abundance of wildlife and some of the animals you are bound to encounter include bison, prairie dogs, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorns, wild turkeys, and everyones favorite — the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!

If you enjoy hiking there are several trails to explore but if you prefer to keep physical activity to a minimum, there is a fantastic drive through the park which will allow you to see just as much beauty as anything you’d see from a hiking trail here.

2. Watch The Medora Musical: The Greatest Show In The West!

The Medora Musical is the greatest show in the west. A little history, a little humor, and a whole lot of western spirit is what you’ll experience at this musical performance in Medora.

This live outdoor performance is fun for all ages and features thrilling variety acts, live horses on stage, and a spectacular fireworks finale. It’s good old-fashioned family fun that celebrates the history of Medora, Teddy Roosevelt, and the American West.

Medora is a small town and the gateway to the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This old west cowtown is one of the top destinations in North Dakota so be sure to put visiting this place onto your North Dakota bucket list.

There are many things to do in Medora and musical performances are just one of the highlights of visiting this North Dakota destination.

You’ll also find fascinating museums, restaurants, and accommodations here too.

3. Feast On BBQ Steak North Dakota Style

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience at Pitchfork Fondue where you can feast on 12-ounce steaks with a western-style fondue twist!

At Pitchfork Steak Fondue you’ll witness cowboy chefs load New York Strip steaks onto pitchforks and then dunk them in barrels of oil. Yes, this is how they barbeque in North Dakota!

Of course, you’re fondue steak comes with all the cowboy fixin’s. Load your plate up at the barbeque-style buffet with baked beans, baked potatoes, garlic toast, coleslaw, and fresh fruit. Save your appetite for dessert which includes brownies and cinnamon-sugar donuts.

Your cowboy cookout comes with a breathtaking view of the surrounding badlands.

4. Saddle Up For A Ride Through The Badlands of North Dakota

Best Things To Do In North Dakota — Photo by North Dakota Tourism.

Saddle up for a trail riding experience that you’ll never forget. Explore the badlands of North Dakota the same way Theodore Roosevelt did in 1883. By horseback!

Medora Trail Rides offers trail rides that will take you on an epic North Dakota adventure along buttes and canyons that are sure to leave lasting memories.

In North Dakota you are never too old to cowboy!

5. Visit The North Dakota Cowboy Hall Of Fame

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall Of Fame is where the character and legacy of the American West comes to life. Immerse yourself in the exciting stories behind the Great Plains, its history and culture.

You’ll learn about the experiences of North Dakota’s Native Americans, homesteaders, ranchers, and world-class rodeo cowbys. Medora’s history was built on the back of a horse so you’ll also gain an understanding of horse culture.

Inside the gold buckle facility is the Center of Western Heritage & Cultures: Native American, Ranching and Rodeo Museum.

It is an interpretive center featuring permanent and traveling western cultural exhibits, a hall of honorees, theater, and gift shop. All of which commemorates the people, events, and livestock that made extraordinary contributions to North Dakota’s culture, lifestyle and legacy.

6. Go Camping At Sully Creek State Park

If you’re looking for beautiful places to camp in North Dakota on your road trip through the state, look no further than Sully Creek State Park.

This state parks offers a stunning location with towering bluffs on one side and the Little Missouri River on the other. Not only is the landscape breathtaking, but it’s a place where you can really get off the beaten path.

So if you’re looking for solitude, this is the perfect spot for you! Although Sully Creek State Park is only ten minutes from the entrance to TRNP, it is far enough from the main roads to feel like you are really all alone out here in North Dakota’s vast plains.

Outdoor adventurers will also love this state park because the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail can be accessed from inside the park. It is a popular hiking, biking, and horse riding trail.

Feel free to bring your canoes or kayaks to explore the badlands from the Little Missouri River which runs through the park, another popular activity here.

The road to the campground is paved up until you enter the park. There are sites for RVs with electric hookups and tent camping is also permitted.

7. Pig Out At Sickies Garage

The best burgers in North Dakota can be found at Sickies Garage, a popular chain restaurant exclusive to the Midwest. You can see what all the fuss is about in either Bismarck or Fargo.

These burgers are “supercharged” and there are SO MANY to choose from!!!! Dangerously too many. As in you may want to try more than one.

They have a huge list of their original style burgers but you can also take your pick from a variety of kobe beef burgers too. If you want to go all out though, the supercharged burgers are the way to go. These are extreme, next level burgers!

Curious what we mean by supercharged? Well for example, you can order a glazed donut burger, a macaroni cheese burger, a beer cheese burger, or a jalapeno peanut butter burger.

And that is not all. They have amazing takes on mac and cheese, deep-fried sandwiches and more! Good luck choosing what to eat here!!

8. Grab A Donut From Sandy’s

Sandy’s is the best place to grab donuts in North Dakota! Seriously.

This local chain donut shop can be found in downtown Fargo. It’s a great place to have breakfast where you can sip on a nice hot coffee while savoring the tastiest donuts in the state.

Even if you’re just passing through Fargo on your way elsewhere, you should still make time to stop and pick up a couple of snacks for the road.

What’s so special about this place? Well they make fun flavors like mochi with fruity pebbles, orange creamsicle, and blueberry old-fashioneds. Making time to visit Sandy’s will also give you a good reason to explore downtown Fargo.

9. Take A Picture of Historic Fargo Theatre

The Fargo Theater was originally built in 1926 to showcase cinema and vaudeville theater from the golden era.

It has since been beautifully restored and now serves as an art house theater showing independent and foreign films. It’s also the hottest downtown venue for concerts.

But if you aren’t planning to spend much time in Fargo, you must at least see this historic building (and take a picture of it if you like).

This very special building has earned itself a place on the National Register of Historical Places proving that it really is a must see place in North Dakota.

10. Visit The Scandinavian Historic Park

20 Best Things To Do In North Dakota! — Photo: North Dakota Tourism.

If you’re interested in learning about North Dakota’s Scandinavian heritage, be sure to visit the Scandinavian Heritate Park in Minot.

At the center you’ll learn about the history and culture of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Inside there are displays of a Finnish sauna, Gol Stave church, and an authentic Sigdal home.

Also be sure to get a close up view of the 25-foot tall Swedish Dala Horse by taking the time to walk around it. It is very cool!

The heritage center commemorates the Scandinavians who left their home for a better life in the USA.

Once you’re done touring the center, stop by the gift store to purchase Scandinavian-inspired souvenirs.

11. See The World’s Largest Buffalo Monument

The world’s largest buffalo monument stands tall on a hill in Jamestown, North Dakota. This 26-foot tall concrete giant weighs a whopping 60 tons!

It was created by artist Elmer Peterson and has been watching over the city of Jamestown ever since 1959.

The concrete monument is one of the coolest roadside attractions in America! Therefore absolutely needs to be on your list of places to visit in North Dakota.

Named Dakota Thunder, you can visit him and the adjacent National Buffalo Museum too.

12. Visit Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is the oldest state park in North Dakota. If you want to experience what it was like living as a frontier soldier on the Great Plains, you definitely want to visit this place.

Begin your exploration at the Visitor Center Museum for insight into the region’s history and culture through the various displays here. Next up, take a look at the reconstructed earth lodges which will give you a glimpse into the lives of Mandan Native Americans.

Also, don’t miss hiking through the park to discover the natural beauty of the region. There are multiple trails that traverse the park which offer views of the Missouri River.

13. Travel To Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live as a Native American in the western frontier? The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site offers the chance to go back in time and discover the culture, history, and lifestyle of the people who first settled this land.

Earthlodge people hunted bison and other game, but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries. The site was a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years prior to becoming an important market place for fur traders after 1750.

There are many things to see and do at this historic site. You can watch a film about a native woman who lived at the Knife River Village, tour the site’s museum to learn about the history and culture of the Hidatsa people, and then take on a few of the hiking trails afterwards.

You can visit Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton which is 60-miles northeast of Bismarck, North Dakota.

14. Take A Drive Down The Enchanted Highway

Take a drive down the Enchanted Highway, a fun road trip in North Dakota famous for its towering roadside sculptures. The drive begins in Gladstone off Interstate-94 (exit 72) and ends in the small town of Regent.

Along the 32-mile stretch of highway you’ll encounter fun attractions like the “Geese In Flight”, “Pheasants On The Prairies” and “Grasshoppers In The Field” to name a few.

All of the sculptures have their own parking lots so you can pull over and get your picture taken with them (or of them).

At the end of your road trip, stop by the gift shop in Regent to pick up an Enchanted Highway souvenir to remember your trip by.

15. Visit Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

The Fort Union Trading Post was the most important fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River between the years 1828 to 1867.

It is where the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world such as cloth, guns, blankets, and beads. Annually, this post traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise!

Today, the old fur trading post is a national historic site and one of the best attractions in North Dakota. The site features a reconstruction of what the post would have looked like in the 19th century. Things to do here include watching an orientation film and exploring the trade house.

Plan A Trip To North Dakota

Rental Cars

If you need a rental car for your trip we recommend Enterprise who are our preferred car rental company. But if you would prefer to shop around use rentalcars.com to look for the best rates on car rentals in North Dakota.

Hotels

HotelsTo find the best rates on hotel rooms search hotels.com who have the largest inventory of rooms at the lowest rates! Alternatively you can use VRBO to find a vacation homes in North Dakota to make your trip extra special.

RVs & Campervans

Would you prefer to rent an RV or campervan for your North Dakota road trip? Check out Outdoorsy where you’ll find a huge selection of vehicles across the U.S. that you can sleep inside. Save money by not having to stay overnight in hotel rooms!

Road Trips

If you’re not experienced with taking road trips, have a look at a few of these articles that will help you become more familiar with what to expect on your great American road trip adventure: