10 Of The Quietest Towns In The Prairies
The North American prairies sweep over the central portion of the continent, from south-central Canada down through the Midwest and into the Texas Panhandle. The three most dominant habitats include shortgrass, tallgrass, and mixed prairie, though there are swatches of grasslands from California to Florida. These introspective landscapes - often flat, sometimes rolling, and even striated and speckled with hoodoos (as is the case with the Badlands) - have often been manipulated into farmlands (hence the designation, "bread basket of the world"), and flat out destroyed in the name of urban development, but there are still seemingly infinite sections available to modern explorers. These ten towns reflect on the historical significance of the prairies and showcase some of the best remaining natural regions.
Val Marie, Saskatchewan
If a quiet prairie retreat is what you seek, then a multi-day tour of Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park is practically mandatory. The best place to launch into this massive mixed-grass habitat/bison sanctuary is from the tiny tumbleweed town of Val Marie. Pop into the national park’s Visitor Center for an overview of the upcoming journey (ask about the Ecotour Scenic Drive, the prehistoric tipi rings, and the stunning 70 Mile Butte Trail just outside of town). Next, walk next door to the Val Marie School (built in 1927), which now serves as a museum and cozy coffee shop. Lastly, on your way into Grassland’s West Block, pull over for a brief tour of the Heritage Grain Elevator (for after all, what would the prairies be without a robust foundation of agriculture?).
Drumheller, Alberta
Alberta is best known for its dramatic Rocky Mountain landscape, but its prairie portion has a lot to offer too. Case in point: the dinosaur-centric city of Drumheller. Plunked in the heart of the Badlands and perched next to the hearty Red Deer River, Drumheller specializes in solitary scenic drives through ghost towns and canyons, and open-air adventuring of all sorts. At the same time, its budding downtown takes after the trends of the rest of Wild Rose Country, with its craft brewery, small-batch distillery, and multiple independent cafes. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Royal Tyrrell Museum within Midlands Provincial Park (just outside of town). This is one of the most compelling collections of complete dinosaur skeletons (spanning multiple epochs) on the continent.
Patricia, Alberta
Speaking of fossil-laden badlands, Drumheller enthusiasts would be well-advised to continue their road trip down to Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park - one of the planet’s most bountiful paleontological caches. This UNESCO World Heritage Site packs 24 interlinked sun-beaten trails (just watch out for basking Prairie rattlesnakes) that pass hoodoos, fissures, epic panoramic viewpoints, and multiple drive-in campgrounds. As a cherry on top, poke your head into the hamlet of Patricia (located right outside the park) - home to the historic Patricia Hotel (circa 1915). This “Oasis of the West” is a lovable old-school saloon and “Steak Pit,” where voracious visitors can dress up their own Alberta beef or buffalo burger in communal cookout fashion. And if you’re tired of camping out, the Patricia Hotel offers bed and breakfast accommodations.
Fort Macleod, Alberta
The Southern Alberta town of Fort Macleod is famous in all the right ways. It has proven to be impactful both culturally and historically, and it is a stone’s throw from jaw-dropping national parks, and yet, its streets are always chill. The aesthetic of this prairie frontier town has caught the eye of serious filmmakers over the years. As such, tourists can scout out scenes from Interstellar, Brokeback Mountain, Passchendaele, and the latest Ghostbusters flick (not to mention The Last of Us and Fargo TV series). While in the movie mood, why not check out something current at the Empress Theatre (i.e. an indie cinema housed in a 1910 opera house)? For a bit of Canadian history, bop over to the North-West Mounted Police Barracks, and to uncover some of the region’s pre-colonial past, venture to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site to see how the indigenous Plains Buffalo Culture outsmarted and overpowered the eponymous mega fauna.
Minot, North Dakota
Minot is actually a substantial city (by North Dakota standards), and it is home to the North Dakota State Fair (July 18-26, 2025), but "The Magic City" also has its quiet pockets that are well worth investigating. First and foremost, pay a visit to the Scandinavian Heritage Park. This free outdoor exhibit showcases architecture, memorial statues, and garden displays that emulate the cultures of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. The wooden Gol Stave Church, in particular, is a pleasant and transporting feature. Frugivores may also be drawn to Angelic Gardens, where one can pick fresh fruit while perusing the Victorian grounds. And finally, downtown Minot is clustered well off of the Burdick Expressway, offering a cozy tourist experience. Check out the Railroad Museum (Saturdays only), the Taube Museum of Art, or pop back and forth between the indie bookstore and record store (they're right across the street from one another).
Rugby, North Dakota
If you made it all the way to Minot, then you might as well continue east to Rugby for the novelty. This small Pierce County city purports to be the "Geographical Center of North America," and has the photo-op stone shrine sitting right off the highway to back it up. Granted, the gimmick wears off after a few minutes, but for you committed travelers, it will be a neat feather in your cap. Once you're done with the Instagram flex, consider turning your attention next door to the Prairie Village Museum. This collection of 20 historic buildings (i.e. an 1887 log cabin, a train depot, jail, schoolhouse, church, etc.) shows off what life was like for early homesteaders in this area, as well as the indigenous populations who long-since roamed the North Dakota plains.
Lewistown, Montana
Montana, like the Canadian province of Alberta to the north, is surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, but is actually dominated by prairies (in this case, of the shortgrass variety). One such place to absorb the Treasure State's lesser-seen treasures is Lewistown. Beeline for the American Prairie National Discovery Center for an interactive education about the massive, but ultimately, overlooked and underappreciated ecosystem, and then see what else Main Street has to offer. You may wish to catch a matinee at the anachronistic Judith Theatre, patronize one of the copious amounts of coffee shops (some of which double as a bookstore or art gallery), or delve deeper into the full-blown galleries that take inspiration from Montana's colliding cultures and merging landscapes.
Brandon, Manitoba
Sitting just south of the Trans Canada Highway and the Assiniboine River, Brandon has a surprising wealth of natural, historical, and artistic attractions. For instance, along with many local green spaces, Riding Mountain National Park, with its aptly-named Clear Lake and buffalo preserve, sits just an hour to the North, and Spruce Woods Provincial Park, with its mixed-prairie hikes and sand dunes, is even closer to the East. In terms of history, introspective visitors can hop between the Daly House Museum, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, and the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum (in neighboring Shilo). And as for the creative types, they can flock to the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba or the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art. Let’s go Brandon!
Saint Charles, Illinois
We can't go close out this list without mentioning at least one location within "The Prairie State." While Illinois has developed substantially in the centuries following the first European settlers (who pronounced the lasting nickname after seeing how expansive the tallgrass prairie landscape was), there are still plenty of preserves and farmlands showcasing just how fertile the Midwest can be. Situated within the tranquil Fox River valley, St. Charles is a youthful and family-friendly suburb of Chicago. Its charming downtown is full of boutiques, breweries, cafes and eateries, while its periphery is replete with community parks and spacious forest preserves.
Jamestown, North Dakota
Lastly, how can we omit a town that calls itself "The Pride of the Prairies" and "Buffalo City"? Clearly, Jamestown, North Dakota, is about all things prairie-related. If the herbivorous beasts of past and present pique your interest, head for the World's Largest Buffalo Monument, and then take a tour of the adjacent North American Bison Discovery Center, where a herd of buffalo roam the grounds around the museum. And before leaving this quirky enclave, complete the trifecta with a stroll down the main street of Frontier Village, which serves to preserve the pioneer aesthetic. After soaking up the history of the old plains, head north of town to the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge to see the living, breathing prairie habitat one last time.
Parting Thoughts
These ten prairie towns aren't shy on attractions, and yet, they never lose sight of the landscape's primary asset: quiet beauty. Across these various regions of North America, grassy hills dance with the wind, golden fields reveal the vastness of the Great Plains, and adaptive animals, great and small, remind us how valuable these ecosystems continue to be.
