North Dakota Road Trip

There are so many fun, quirky and majestic things to see when you are taking a North Dakota Road Trip.  I was making the drive solo, which is awesome because you can stop and do whatever you want for however long you want with no one to argue with. Highly recommend solo travel from time to time. 🙂  Also I had stopped in Minnesota to visit my daughter, so this trip is from east to west across I-94. I’ll go in order to make it easier for you to plan your trip.

Hopperstad Stave Church

Right before you enter North Dakota from Minnesota there is a stop that you need to make. It’s the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County right on the border in Moorhead, Minnesota. Here you will find the Hopperstad Stave Church, as well as, a museum and modern day viking ship. If you have a viking fan in your family, they will especially love it. Take the tour and learn all the details of the building. The leprosy window was very interesting.

Fargo Wood Chipper

Once you cross the Minnesota to North Dakota border, you have another stop at the Fargo Visitor Center.  Have you ever seen the movie Fargo? If not, you still might know the grizzly story of the wood chipper. This visitor center has the actual wood chipper used in the movie. And you can pose with it for pictures being as silly as you want. This would also be a great time to ask any questions that you have about the state and maybe get a map or brochure.

Worlds Largest Buffalo

Drive 95 miles west of Fargo on I-94, and you will find Jamestown and the worlds largest buffalo monument in the quaint Frontier Village. There are also some real bison, including a white one, that you can see and photograph. And if you want to learn even more about buffalo, the national buffalo museum is located here as well. It was raining when I was there, so I didn’t get to explore the Frontier Village like I would have. But it would be a great history lesson for kids and just fun to check out.

Bismarck

I actually stayed a few days in Bismarck, so I have several things to share from that area.  And yes, Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota in case you were thinking that sounded familiar.

Art Alley

There is an entire alley of murals in downtown Bismarck: Different themes, different artists and all so great! It’s also close to one of my favorite places to eat in Bismarck, Terra Nomad. Definitely pop in for a bite if you head this way.

Where to Eat In Bismarck

Speaking of places I like to eat in Bismarck and its neighbor Mandan, I wrote an entire post about it HERE.  So many delicious places, including Butterhorn, where I tried these Eggs in Purgatory for the first time and they were insanely delicious.

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

What a great history museum! From Dinosaurs and early peoples to native animals like birds and horses, the North Dakota Heritage Center is set up in a fun way to explore with the whole family. And don’t forget a bison hat at the gift shop! 🙂

Lewis & Clark Riverboat

For a relaxing evening, take a ride on the Lewis and Clark Riverboat down the Missouri River. The views are lovely, especially at sunset.        NOTE* The Riverboat is closed for the 2020 season due to Covid-19. It will reopen in 2021.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is located in Mandan, ND which is right across the river from Bismarck. It is the perfect park for social distancing, as all the attractions are very spread out and there doesn’t ever seem to be a crowd. I spent many hours doing tours and walking around. Here is my post with all the details. This concludes the Bismarck/Mandan stop on the road trip. Next up is a giant cow!

Salem Sue: The World’s Largest Holstein Cow

After driving 30 minutes west past Bismarck/Mandan, you will come to a giant dairy cow named Sue (exit 127).  She’s almost as old as me and weighs in at 12,000 pounds! This is just one of those fun kitschy roadside attractions. Literally the only thing at the top of this hill is Sue. As I was traveling alone, I had quite the time trying to get a picture of me and Sue together. Usually I ask strangers to take my photo. But there wasn’t another soul around on this day. So I found a wooden post and sign that I could lean my camera on and set the timer. Then I would run as fast as I could over to Sue before the timer went off. It was hilarious. This is what I captured. Not ideal, but it will do. haha

Enchanted Highway

The enchanted highway is more than just a quick roadside attraction. It’s fifty miles west of Salem Sue off the Gladstone, ND exit (#72). Gary Greff has created these giant metal sculptures all along this highway for 32 miles. There are seven total giant metal sculptures, one of which is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest outdoor sculpture in the world. Definitely a unique experience. To give you an idea of their size, notice the tiny little black cows in the background.

Dickinson

Next up is the town of Dickinson. I ended up spending the night here at the Candlewood Suites. I had a nice room with an ample kitchen for less than $100 a night. There are several things to enjoy in this town, including the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, the Ukrainian Cultural Institute and Fluffy Fields Winery. I also had a yummy lunch at Blue 42 Grille, which I would definitely recommend.

Trapper’s Kettle Restaurant

Another place to stop for a bite is in Belfield, ND at the Trapper’s Kettle Restaurant. It’s designed in a rustic trapper setting with metal dishes and a canoe salad bar. This is a quick easy stop right off of I-94, but also this is the exit you take to get to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park: North Unit

The main section of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located pretty close off of I-94 in the town on Medora (more on that later). But there is another section of the park that is fifty miles north of I-94 off of this Belfield exit. If you have the time, I highly recommend you take this little detour. The north unit of the park offers something different that you won’t see in the other section. It’s best described as giant stone balls. See for yourself.

Painted Canyon Visitor Center

At Exit 32 off of I-94 there is Painted Canyon Visitor Center. It’s a great stop, especially if you don’t have time to actually visit the north or south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  There are hiking trails, panoramic views, restrooms and more at this stop. Sometimes you will even see bison roaming the grounds.  NOTE: The Visitor Center is currently closed due to Covid-19.

Medora

We have arrived at one of my favorite small towns in the the country, Medora. It is a magical place that makes you feel like you are back in time. Definitely a MUST STOP on your North Dakota Road Trip!  Here are a few things I recommend while there. I will be writing even more soon. So keep coming back to The {Happy} Travel Bug!!

Where to Stay in Medora

There are several options on where to stay in Medora. And they range in price from under $100 to several hundred dollars. I personally stayed at the Rough Riders Lodge. It’s rumored that Teddy Roosevelt himself stayed in the historical part of the hotel. It’s a lovely hotel with rustic charm. The rooms are nicely decorated and there is a bar and restaurant (Theodore’s Dining Room) that I enjoyed as well. If you are looking for a more family friendly place with a pool, then the AmericInn by Wyndham Medora is a great option. The Bad Lands Motel and Elkhorn Quarters also offer family friendly pools.

Where to Eat in Medora

There aren’t a ton of places in Medora to eat, but the options are tasty and range from pizza and burgers to fine dining and a gospel brunch.  For such a small town you will have plenty to choose from, even if staying for a while. I was able to eat at almost half of the restaurants while I was there and I enjoyed them all.  Especially ending the day at the Little Missouri Saloon with some live music and a pineapple beer.  And also a must in Medora is the Pitchfork Fondue.

Pitchfork Steak Fondue

The pitchfork steak fondue is one of those unique experiences that you should check out. Ideally you will eat and then attend the Medora Musical. They are located in the same area up on a hill overlooking the town. They cook the steak on pitchforks in giant black pots. It really is something to see. I personally don’t eat steak but they had plenty of other things to fill me up.

And an added bonus was running into Teddy Roosevelt himself! Obviously this is an impersonator, but still so fun.

Medora Musical

Known as the greatest show in the West, the Medora Musical is a must see in Medora. The music and dancing are very entertaining, but the setting really made it special for me. Located outside in the striking badlands, the show happens as the sun sets and it is a lovely experience.

Things to do in Medora

Medora offers lots of family friendly activities like mini golf, zipline and a children’s park. There’s also hiking, golfing and horseback riding for teenagers in the family. There are several historical activities like the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site. But one of my favorite family friendly activities was Perception Medora. Just check out this picture to get an idea of the crazy fun you can have there. Lots of optical illusions…I am not that tiny ya’ll!

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Do you have your national park passport book? I know many people who want to visit all the National Parks. Well Theodore Roosevelt National Park should be high on your list. The entrance is located right in Medora. So it is definitely a highlight of your visit. So many beautiful hikes with amazing views. The wildlife is also fantastic with bison, wild horses and adorable little prairie dogs. One of the things I loved is that it wasn’t crowded. Some of the National Parks can be teaming with people, and especially right now this isn’t a good thing. Social distancing in nature is the best thing ever!

Now you see why I love Medora, ND so much?!  For our last stop on the North Dakota Road Trip, we had to the beach…Beach, ND that is. It is 30 miles west of Medora off of I-94.

Prairie Fire Pottery

Tama Smith makes beautiful pottery at Prairie Fire Pottery. Her pottery is sold in gift shops all over the country (like the Smithsonian and Disney World) and you can stop and see where it is made and meet her yourself. I met her and had a tour of her studios located in Beach, ND. She’s a really fun and interesting lady. I ended up picking a heart shaped bowl because I love decorating with hearts.

And that’s it folks! We made it all the way across the state of North Dakota. Well actually, if you drive just two more miles west past Beach you will hit Montana. I did it, just for fun, and to take a picture with the “Welcome to Montana” sign. Happy travels as you take your North Dakota Road Trip.