8 Best North Dakota Towns For A Weekend Trip
The Great Plains landscape of North Dakota is stunning. The wide open prairies, the steep slopes of the Badlands, and colorful rock formations are ideal for a peaceful weekend getaway. These small, uncrowded towns are the perfect stop to admire the unique wilderness of North Dakota! You can walk through the original buildings in an Old West town at Frontier Village in Jamestown or relax along the shoreline of Devils Lake. There’s even a Scandinavian park in Minot! So, pack your bags and let your worries melt away in these fantastic North Dakota towns.
Medora
The humble town of Medora is an old Western treat! Secluded in the heart of the Badlands and surrounded by the beauty of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, it’s a heaven for nature lovers. Aside from breathtaking rock formations and canyons, downtown Medora is like an old-west time capsule. Walking the streets of Medora feels like stepping onto a Western movie set with all the amenities of home. Make sure to go to the Buffalo Gap Gift Shop for treasures to take back home, then have a home-cooked breakfast at the Farmhouse. And in the evening, stop by the rustic Old Town Hall Theater to catch a live show!
When you’re ready to explore the wilderness of Medora, you won’t need to travel far outside of the downtown district. While Theodore Roosevelt National Park sees a lot of tourists, escape the crowds and check out Rough Rider State Park! It's often less crowded, and the views are just as amazing. There are various hiking trails with one-of-a-kind views of the Badlands, and the park even offers kayaking and canoeing down the Little Missouri River. To get that authentic Western experience, book your stay at the Rough Riders Hotel! They offer cozy western-themed accommodations with scrumptious American cuisine.
Dickinson
Dickinson may be a town far off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the drive, especially if you love dinosaurs! Fun fact: North Dakota is where over 600 species of dinosaurs were discovered, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex. If you want to explore the fossils and learn more about the dinos of North Dakota, there’s no better spot in the entire state than the Badlands Dinosaur Museum within the expansive Dickinson Museum Center.
If you want to get out and about and explore the lands once inhabited by the dinosaurs, Dickinson offers many public parks and green spaces. One of the locals' favorites is the Patterson Lake Recreation Area, which provides well-maintained hiking trails, swimming, canoeing, and places to set up camp with dense wooded views. However, if you don’t like camping, there are plenty of affordable accommodations right in town, like the Badlands Inn and Suites. Dickinson is the place to visit if you love natural history and exploring the great outdoors!
Bottineau
The often-overlooked hamlet of Bottineau is a tight-knit community with unique attractions and amazing views. The ice cream alone is well worth the trip! Bottineau is home to Pride Dairy, a locally owned ice cream shop that serves up some of the best ice cream in the state. While you may come for the ice cream, you’ll fall in love with the breathtaking scenery and quirky tourist attractions, like Tommy the Turtle, Bottineau’s snowmobile-riding mascot.
One of the most spectacular sites in Bottineau is the International Peace Garden. Located on the border of North Dakota and Canada, it provides over 2,400 acres of manicured gardens of native flowers, prairies, lakes, and pristine walking trails. And if you’ve ever wanted to see Stonehenge but can afford the trip, Bottineau offers the next best thing with Mystic Gardens. A re-creation of Stonehenge, it’s a peaceful retreat outside of town with fantastic and uncrowded views of the Turtle Mountains. While there’s no shortage of cozy hotels downtown, visitors love the Turtle Mountain Inn due to its prime location and reasonable rates.
New Salem
Salem Sue, a 38-foot fiberglass cow, welcomes visitors to the charming town of New Salem. Outside Bismarck, this underrated town makes for an amazing weekend retreat thanks to museums, historical sites, and natural beauty. In the middle of vast open prairies is the Custer Trail Museum, a collection of restored community buildings from the early 1900s open for self-guided tours.
The downtown area boasts delightful shops on uncrowded streets. You can make a stop at The Metro Perk and Market on Main Street for a bite to eat and shop locally-made crafts for treasures and antiques. For a real treat, make sure to book your stay at the Metropolitan Hotel! It may look rustic and understated on the outside, but it’s a funky and modern hotel with lovely accommodations and even better food! You can spend your days exploring the historical sites of New Salem and then end your day in a room with modern amenities and fantastic views.
Jamestown
Jamestown is known as the heart of the North Dakota prairie because before it was settled, it was once the home of herds of wild buffalo. People outnumber buffalo in Jamestown today, but wild buffalo sightings are still possible. Jamestown is home to the world’s largest concrete buffalo statute named Dakota Thunder, which stands 26 feet tall. For live buffalo viewing, the North American Bison Discovery Center is centrally located in downtown Jamestown, where you can watch live herds on the great North Dakota plains in the rear of the museum.
Minot
Minot has much to offer, including delightful zoos, museums, and public parks. It is home to the annual North Dakota State Fair, which is nine days of family-friendly activities, rides, and food. A must-see in Minot is the Roosevelt Park Zoo, which has over 90 species of animals. The zoo is on the small side, spanning 22 acres, making it a perfect place to spend the afternoon. Minot is also home to the Dakota Territory Air Museum.
Also in Minot, the Scandinavian Heritage Park is a stunning dedicated green space that celebrates the heritage of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway. The Heritage House Museum in the park can help you learn more about the Minot area.
Valley City
Valley City is renowned for its stunning natural beauty. Whether one wishes to kayak down the Sheyenne River, shop for unique treasures at Unique Antiques, or hike along the Hi-Line Bridge, there is an abundance of activities to discover in this North Dakotan gem. For those inclined to explore the water, the Valley City Parks and Recreation Department offers kayak rentals for an afternoon, providing a scenic tour through the heart of Valley City.
A distinctive feature of Valley City is its location along the North Country Trail, which spans over 4,600 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. The segment of the trail that passes through Valley City guides visitors through expansive grasslands adorned with blooming wildflowers and tranquil lakes, offering spectacular views. To gain deeper insights into the area's history, the Barnes County Historical Society Museum offers insight into the region's past, including authentic dinosaur fossils. Accommodations in Valley City are plentiful and affordable, with the Grand Stay Hotel standing out as a luxurious option for those seeking a more indulgent stay.
Devils Lake
Devils Lake presents an ideal destination for a weekend outdoor adventure. Regardless of the season, Devils Lake offers a plethora of activities for visitors. During the summer, one can enjoy a leisurely afternoon along the sandy shores of Devils Lake at Devil’s Lake State Park. In winter, Odd Fellows Park provides a relaxing retreat with its scenic spaces for bird watching and a popular sledding hill.
Grahams Island State Park, another notable attraction in Devils Lake, is accessible via the Grahams Island Causeway. This park offers a secluded nature paradise featuring camping, swimming, cross-country skiing, and an array of hiking trails through dense forests and steep terrains, rewarding hikers with breathtaking views.
For those seeking a comfortable stay with picturesque water vistas, the Woodland Resort is highly recommended. The resort offers comfortable accommodations at reasonable prices, with truly unparalleled views.
North Dakota’s Best Weekend Escapes
These North Dakota towns thrive in their seclusion. Far removed from the noise and bustle of the bigger cities, they are a nature lover's dream come true. From the isolation of Grahams Island State Park in Devils Lake to the International Peace Garden in Bottineau, they are well worth the drive! If you want to spend a weekend breathing in the fresh air and taking things slow, you can go wrong with any of these delightful hidden gems. When you’re ready to unplug and unwind, adventure awaits in North Dakota!
