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North Dakota

Fields of grain – green in spring and summer, bronze in fall and white in winter – stretch beyond every horizon in much of desolate North Dakota. Except for the rugged 'badlands' of the far west, geographic relief is subtle; often it's the collapsing remains of a failed homestead that break up the vista.

This is one of the least-visited states in the US. However the lack of holiday-makers doesn't mean the state is a sleepy backwater. The Bakken oil boom (named for geologic formations beneath the surface) has transformed the northwest quadrant into one vast drilling site. At night, fires burning off waste gas give the landscape hellish vistas. Once sleepy towns like Williston and Watford City have been transformed into industrial warrens.

Near the Montana border you'll find natural beauty that justifies a trip while the Missouri River is dotted with sights tied to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Explore North Dakota

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Latest Stories from North Dakota

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout North Dakota.

  • National Park

    Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    A tortured region known as the 'badlands' whose colors seem to change with the moods of nature, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the state's natural…

  • Historic Site

    Fort Union Trading Post

    Straddling the Montana–North Dakota border, the pearl-white Fort Union Trading Post is a reconstruction of the American Fur Company post built in 1828. It…

  • Museum

    North Dakota Heritage Center

    Behind a statue of Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who guided Lewis and Clark on their expedition in 1804, the state's history museum has details on…

  • Museum

    Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

    At this modern center you can learn about the duo's epic expedition and the Native Americans who helped them. There are also rotating exhibits of Western…

  • Historic Site

    Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

    The highlight at this attractive rural park on the west bank of the Missouri is On-a-Slant Indian Village, which has five re-created Mandan earth lodges…

  • Visitor Center

    Fargo Woodchipper

    Fargo's embrace of its namesake film is on full display at the town's engaging visitor center, which houses the actual woodchipper used for the scene…

  • Museum

    Plains Art Museum

    This ambitious and free museum features sophisticated programs in a renovated warehouse. The permanent collection includes contemporary work by Native…

  • Gardens

    International Peace Garden

    With some 150,000 flowers and several monuments, this garden sits symbolically on the border with Manitoba, Canada. Bring your passport!

  • Historic Site

    Fort Buford State Historic Site

    Twenty-two miles southwest of Williston, Fort Buford is close to Fort Union Trading Post and is located near Missouri River. It's the bleak army outpost…

  • Historic Building

    State Capitol

    Bismarck's stark 1930s State Capitol is often referred to as the 'skyscraper of the prairie.' It looks something like a Stalinist school of dentistry from…

  • Museum

    Prairie Village Museum

    This museum re-creates Great Plains life through the decades, with displays inside and vintage buildings outside.

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in North Dakota.

  • Activities