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the USA🇺🇸 | regionsNorth DakotaBadlands bison, Medora, scrap-metal sculptures, prairie border | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in North Dakota
👀 For curious travelersregion ranked #47
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

The real decision in North Dakota is whether to chase the Badlands in the west or the prairie towns in the east, and distance tips it: the state is wide, so pick one side. It sits in the north of United States, along the Canadian border. I once planned a Theodore Roosevelt visit around gas stations, then found that fuel towns vanish for long stretches, so now I fill up early. Unlike South Dakota, North Dakota has far fewer crowds.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #47 region in the USAWhat sets this place apart

North Dakota rewards backpackers who want space and a story. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park badlands put bison, wild horses and prairie dogs within a single loop drive, so you cover wildlife and canyon scenery without changing bases. The Enchanted Highway adds roadside folk art, while Medora gives you a Western town with live evening shows. Because towns are far apart, slow travel by rental car or thumb-and-bus hops is the norm, and that pace suits the wide skies.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit): a scenic loop through painted canyons with bison and wild horses, entry fee about US$30 per vehicle.
  2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit): quieter, with the Little Missouri River overlooks and longer hikes.
  3. Medora: a restored Western town with a famous outdoor musical and boardwalk shops.
  4. Enchanted Highway: giant scrap-metal sculptures spread along a road near Regent.
  5. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park: reconstructed earth lodges and Custer’s house above the Missouri River near Mandan.
  6. Knife River Indian Villages: earth lodge depressions of Hidatsa farming villages, free to enter.
  7. Painted Canyon Overlook: a roadside viewpoint on the interstate with huge badlands vistas.
  8. Icelandic State Park: a lake, trails and a pioneer village in the northeast.
… read more 👉
  1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit): a scenic loop through painted canyons with bison and wild horses, entry fee about US$30 per vehicle.
  2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit): quieter, with the Little Missouri River overlooks and longer hikes.
  3. Medora: a restored Western town with a famous outdoor musical and boardwalk shops.
  4. Enchanted Highway: giant scrap-metal sculptures spread along a road near Regent.
  5. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park: reconstructed earth lodges and Custer’s house above the Missouri River near Mandan.
  6. Knife River Indian Villages: earth lodge depressions of Hidatsa farming villages, free to enter.
  7. Painted Canyon Overlook: a roadside viewpoint on the interstate with huge badlands vistas.
  8. Icelandic State Park: a lake, trails and a pioneer village in the northeast.
  9. International Peace Garden: gardens straddling the Canadian border near Dunseith.
  10. Lake Sakakawea State Park: sandy beaches and fishing on a vast reservoir.
North Dakota’s Knife River Indian Villages cost nothing, making them the cheapest stop here.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around North Dakota

Chasing Horses Back to Nature Experience in North Dakota

Chasing Horses Back to Nature Experience in North Dakota

4.9(15) 4h
From €349
per personViator
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

4.2(23)
From €23
per personViator
Self Guided Audio Tour of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Self Guided Audio Tour of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

4.9(13)
From €18.14
per personViator
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

4.4(7)
From €17.23
per personViator
Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Fargo ND

Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Fargo ND

3.6(9) 2h 30m
From €13.60
per personViator
Missouri River BBQ Dinner Cruise with Laughing Sun Brewing Co

Missouri River BBQ Dinner Cruise with Laughing Sun Brewing Co

5.0(4) 1h 30m
From €49
per personViator
An Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beautiful Bismarck

An Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beautiful Bismarck

4.0(3) 2h
From €11.17
per personViator
Self Guided Driving Audio Tour of Northern Parks Bundle

Self Guided Driving Audio Tour of Northern Parks Bundle

5.0(2) 120h
From €68
per personViator
Burger Cruise featuring Blarney Stone Irish Pub

Burger Cruise featuring Blarney Stone Irish Pub

5.0(2) 1h 30m
From €37
per personViator
Awesome Bar Hunt: We're Fargo-ing Out

Awesome Bar Hunt: We're Fargo-ing Out

0.0(0) 2h
From €11.17
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

⌛️ 5 daysA smart one-week plan

Start in Medora at dawn, because the badlands loop is calmest before tour traffic and wildlife is out. Day 1 and Day 2 stay here for the South Unit and a ride or hike. Roads are long and empty, so a car sets the pace.
Day 3: Theodore Roosevelt North Unit: Drive north for river overlooks and fewer people. Detour to the Enchanted Highway on the way for oversized sculptures.
Day 4: Bismarck: Use the capital for supplies, then see Fort Abraham Lincoln.
Day 5: Knife River Indian Villages: Finish with quiet history. If one day justifies the trip, I pick the first, when the badlands wake up.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Summer (June to August): Highs run 27 to 30°C (80 to 86°F) with long daylight, and this is when Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the festivals peak. Hotels cost the most.
  • Fall (September to October): Crisp 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F) days, thin crowds, and lower rates.
  • Winter (December to February): Highs of -12 to -6°C (10 to 21°F), blizzards, and road closures. Prices bottom out.
  • Spring (April to May): Muddy and unpredictable, 5 to 18°C (41 to 64°F).
Book Badlands lodging early for July weekends.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Fargo is the best base for backpackers in North Dakota, with a walkable downtown of craft breweries, coffee shops, live music and a student crowd from North Dakota State University. Rooms and beds are cheapest here, and it is easy to meet other travelers. Bismarck is a calmer option, with river trails and the Capitol, good for breaking up a long drive. Medora is the one to pick for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a small, friendly tourist town with cabins and campgrounds where hikers swap trail tips. Grand Forks suits you if you want a college-town feel with cheaper bars.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

North Dakota has no walkable center worth the name, since even Bismarck and Fargo spread out along wide arterial roads, and walking stops making sense about ten blocks from downtown. Distances are huge and public transit is thin, so most backpackers end up renting wheels or hitching rides. Plan accordingly.
  • Rental car: US$45 to 80 a day. Towns sit 100 to 200 miles apart, and the state assumes you own a pickup, so renting is the smart way to see the Badlands. Book at Fargo or Bismarck airports.
  • Jefferson Lines bus: US$30 to 70 between Fargo, Bismarck and Minot, running a few times daily or less. Service is sparse because ridership is, so check the schedule before you commit.
  • Amtrak Empire Builder: One daily train each direction, with stops at Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and Williston, often arriving
… read more 👉
North Dakota has no walkable center worth the name, since even Bismarck and Fargo spread out along wide arterial roads, and walking stops making sense about ten blocks from downtown. Distances are huge and public transit is thin, so most backpackers end up renting wheels or hitching rides. Plan accordingly.
  • Rental car: US$45 to 80 a day. Towns sit 100 to 200 miles apart, and the state assumes you own a pickup, so renting is the smart way to see the Badlands. Book at Fargo or Bismarck airports.
  • Jefferson Lines bus: US$30 to 70 between Fargo, Bismarck and Minot, running a few times daily or less. Service is sparse because ridership is, so check the schedule before you commit.
  • Amtrak Empire Builder: One daily train each direction, with stops at Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and Williston, often arriving in the middle of the night. Fares start around US$40 to 90 per leg, and it is the most scenic option.
  • Fargo MATBUS: About US$1.50 to 2 a ride and reliable within Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo.
Split car rental costs with other travelers you meet, because gas stations get scarce in the west.

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in North Dakota

North Dakota eats hearty. Try knoephla soup, a creamy chicken and potato dumpling bowl from German-Russian settlers, plus kuchen and fleischkuechle, a fried meat pocket. Prairie berries show up as chokecherry syrup and juneberry pie, and bison burgers are everywhere. Eat at small-town cafés, supper clubs, Fargo’s brewery taprooms and county fairs. Expect friendly “Minnesota nice” chat, early dinners (many kitchens close by 9 pm) and a US$2 to 4 tip culture on small bills. Meals run US$10 to 20.

FAQFrequently asked questions about North Dakota

Plan 4 to 6 days for North Dakota if you want both the east and the west. Fargo and Grand Forks take a day or two, Bismarck half a day, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park at least two days. Driving from Fargo to Medora takes about 5.5 hours, roughly 320 miles.
Without a car in North Dakota, your options are thin but real. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and Williston (about US$40 to 90 per leg), and Jefferson Lines buses link Fargo, Bismarck and Minot for US$30 to 70. Fargo’s MATBUS covers the city for about US$1.50 to 2. For the Badlands, renting a car at Bismarck or Fargo (US$45 to 80 a day) is the practical choice.
North Dakota is known for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where bison, wild horses and painted canyons line the 36-mile scenic loop (US$30 per vehicle). It also has the Badlands town of Medora, vast wheat and sunflower fields, oil fields in the Bakken region, and Fargo’s craft beer and film-famous name. German-Russian food like knoephla soup is a local signature.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American regions near North Dakota

Explore more nearby:

  • South Dakota—Rushmore faces, Badlands pinnacles, Needles Highway, Black Hills caves| 284 km away
  • Minnesota—Boundary Waters canoeing, North Shore cliffs, Mississippi headwaters, rail trails| 404 km away
  • Nebraska—Sandhill cranes, Oregon Trail landmarks, Niobrara tubing, Panhandle badlands| 593 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

North Dakota suits road-trippers, wildlife watchers and anyone who likes solitude more than nightlife. Distances are long and towns are small. I would rent a car, carry extra water, and spend most of your time in the badlands.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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