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North Dakota Scenic Byways & Backways

Take a trip

Want to tour all of North Dakota's Scenic Byways and Backways? We've got your itinerary all planned for a week-long vacation!

Sample Itinerary: Starting in Fargo

Day 1

Drive West on I-94 to Valley City. You can now travel north or south along the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway. You will finish in Lisbon, where you can have lunch or stop along the way.

From Lisbon, travel west along Highway 27, south on Highway 1 and west again along Highway 13 to LaMoure, the southern gateway to the Chan SanSan Scenic Byway (James River Valley). Traveling north along the Byway and Backway, you will again reach I-94 in Jamestown. Take I-94 West 90 miles to Bismarck, the state’s capitol city.

Day 2

Start your day at the North Dakota Heritage Center. The state’s museum will show you North Dakota’s history from the prehistoric era to the settlement of the state to present day. It will give you a greater understanding of the state!

From Bismarck travel north along Highway 1804 or River Road. This road will continue north to Highway 83 just south of Washburn. Continue north to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the eastern starting point of the Sakakawea Scenic Byway. Continue along the Byway to Stanton.

From Stanton travel south along Highway 31 to Highway 25 and follow east and then south to I-94. Spend the rest of the day in North Dakota’s Capitol City! Visit the Steamboat and Keelboat Park, Double Ditch Historic Site, Chief Looking’s Village or take a walking tour of downtown Bismarck!

Day 3

From Bismarck cross the beautiful Missouri River and enter Mandan. From Mandan, take Highway 1806 south to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, which is 7 miles south of Mandan.

At Fort Lincoln: ON-A-SLANT INDIAN VILLAGE: (Located in the Fort Lincoln State Park): Take a walk to the reconstructed earthlodges of the Mandan Indians. THE CUSTER HOUSE: (Located in the Fort Lincoln State Park): Tour the home of General George & Libbie Custer, commissary storehouse, granary and barracks and stables. FORT MCKEEN BLOCKHOUSES: (Located in the Fort Lincoln State Park): These infantry blockhouses set high on the bluffs.

From Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park continue on Highway 1806, 33 miles south to Cannon Ball and the northern start of the Standing Rock Historical Scenic Byway. Follow the Scenic Byway to Fort Yates or continue to the South Dakota border.

From Fort Yates travel west to Highway 6 for 36 miles to Highway 21. Turn west on Highway 21 and travel to Regent, 77 miles to the west.

In Regent you will be at the starting point to North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway: Metal sculptures, including "World's Largest Tin Family," "Teddy Rides Again," "Pheasants on the Prairie," "Grasshoppers in the Field," "Geese in Flight," and "Deer Crossing." Gift shop in Regent has miniatures of each statue.

Once again you will meet up with I-94 near Gladstone, continue west to Dickinson.

Day 4

Start your morning off with a “ROAR” at the Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson: the Museum features 11 full-scale dinosaurs, minerals, mammals, fossils, and sea life.

From Dickinson travel north on Highway 22 toward Killdeer. Manning is the southern starting point for the Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway. You will continue near Little Missouri State Park and will travel inside the Fort Berthold Reservation to just west of New Town and meet up with Highway 23. Travel west on Highway 23 to Watford City.

From Watford City, travel south on Highway 85 to the entrance of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Finish your day in Watford City or Williston . While in Watford City visit the Long X Visitor Center or in Williston - Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Fort Buford Historic Site or the Missouri Yellowstone Confluence Center.

Day 5

Today you will travel quite a bit in the morning to reach the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Backway, which is roughly 50 miles northwest of Minot on Highway 52. From this beautiful backway you will travel to the east on Highway 5 roughly 60 miles to Highway 14. Traveling north on Highway 15 for about 10 miles you will reach the western starting point of Turtle Mountain Byway and Highway 46. While on this byway you will be traveling parallel to the US / Canada border which is only 3 miles to the north, and the area includes the International Peace Garden!

From Rolla, continue east to Langdon for the evening or spend a night at one of the resorts on Lake Metigoshe.

Day 6

Travel east from Langdon or Lake Metigoshe to Highway 32 to Walhalla, the starting point on the final North Dakota Byway or Backway - The Rendezvous Region Backway. When you return to Walhalla or south of Walhalla, follow Highway 5 east through Cavalier to Highway 81 and I-29. Traveling South on I-29 you will soon be in Grand Forks and I-29 will return you to Fargo.