Continuing the drive through our North Dakota road trip series, the Highway 83 corridor is the perfect playground for outdoor family fun.
Days 1-2 | Bismarck + Mandan
Bismarck is more than the state’s capital. Experience rich history, unique shopping, dining and nightlife, and exciting outdoor recreation in Bismarck-Mandan. Get a bird’s-eye view of the Missouri River, the two cities and Fort Abraham Lincoln from the 18th floor observation deck at the Capitol building. Then take a closer look. Fort Lincoln and On-A-Slant Indian Village south of Mandan are full of history and culture, as is the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum on the Capitol grounds. Go downtown for unique dining experiences and craft breweries.
Spend the next day on the water, either paddle boarding on Harmon Lake or piloting a personal watercraft on the Missouri River. In the evening, take a Lewis and Clark Riverboat dinner cruise on the Missouri River.
Day 3 | Washburn + Stanton + Riverdale
Follow the trail of Lewis and Clark up the Missouri River to Double Ditch Indian Village and on to Washburn, where you can tour reconstructed Fort Mandan and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to learn about the expedition. Take a detour and drive the Sakakawea Scenic Byway to Stanton’s Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, home of Sakakawea. Marvel at enormous Garrison Dam and Lake Sakakawea, then head to Riverdale and enjoy a relaxing evening at the Sakakawea Sunset Lodge.
Day 4 | Garrison
Enjoy a day at Fort Stevenson State Park near Garrison. Rent a boat, paddle board or kayak and get out on Lake Sakakawea. Do a little fishing or rent a bike and ride around the park on the shores of the big lake. Or just soak up the sun on an aqua pad. Visit the guardhouse museum filled with artifacts and stories from the days when Fort Stevenson guarded supply lines in Dakota Territory.
Day 5 | Minot
Get a taste of Minot culture at Scandinavian Heritage Park before making your way to Dakota Territory Air Museum. The park is a tribute to Scandinavians who settled the area and the air museum is a glimpse of the area’s aviation history. Visit Roosevelt Park Zoo and come face-to-face with lions, leopards, giraffes, red pandas and more. The North Dakota State Fair will be back July 23-31, with carnival rides, food vendors, agricultural and commercial expositions and a spectacular concert lineup.
For more information about the road trip found here, including places to eat and stay, what to see and do, and where to stop for photo ops, visit https://belegendary.link/RoadTrips(link is external) and plan your legendary North Dakota adventure.
