North Dakota Attractions Guide

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The badlands that turned a young Theodore Roosevelt into a conservationist.

• South Unit (near Medora) — The park's main section: the 48-mile Scenic Loop Drive, bison herds, prairie dog towns, and painted badlands.
• North Unit — Wilder and quieter, with the scenic drive to Oxbow Overlook and the Cannonball Concretions.
• Painted Canyon — A riot of colorful badlands visible from the I-94 overlook and visitor center.
• Maltese Cross Cabin — Theodore Roosevelt's restored ranch cabin, displayed at the South Unit visitor center.
• Elkhorn Ranch site — The remote site of Roosevelt's "home ranch" on the Little Missouri River, reached by gravel road; the cabin is gone, but cottonwoods and foundation stones remain.

Fargo

The state's largest city, with an outsized arts and culture scene.

• Fargo Air Museum — Vintage military and civilian aircraft, including a P-51 Mustang and a Wright brothers replica.
• Plains Art Museum — Contemporary art plus one of the region's best Native American art collections.
• Fargo Theatre — A restored 1926 Art Deco movie palace; catch a film or concert, and see the wood chipper from the movie Fargo.
• Red River Zoo — A 33-acre zoo specializing in cold-climate species like red pandas and gray wolves.

Bismarck

The state capital on the Missouri River, with the state's flagship museum.

• North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum — The state's flagship museum, from dinosaur fossils to frontier history; free admission.
• North Dakota State Capitol — The 19-story "Skyscraper on the Prairie," the tallest building in the state, with a free observation deck.
• Dakota Zoo — A 90-acre zoo on the banks of the Missouri River with 600+ animals.
• Camp Hancock State Historic Site — An 1872 frontier military post with the original log headquarters building.
• Lewis & Clark Riverboat — Sightseeing cruises on the Missouri River aboard a replica paddle-wheeler, departing from the Bismarck riverfront.

International Peace Garden

A 2,400-acre garden dedicated to peace, sitting directly on the US–Canada border.

• Floral Clock — An 18-foot working clock planted with 2,000–5,000 blooms in a new design each year.
• Peace Chapel — A Manitoba limestone chapel straddling the border, its walls inscribed with quotations on peace.
• 9/11 Memorial — A memorial incorporating steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center.
• Sunken Garden — The formal perennial garden framing the border line itself.

Practical Tips

Best season to visit: June through September. Winters are brutally cold, and many seasonal attractions close from October to May.

Getting around: A car is essential. Fly into Fargo (FAR) or Bismarck (BIS).

Border stop: Bring a passport or enhanced ID for the Peace Garden — the garden straddles the US–Canada border.

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