This Family Friendly Road Trip Through North Dakota Leads To Whimsical Attractions, Themed Restaurants, And More
By Tori Jane|Updated on March 20, 2022(Originally published March 30, 2022)
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Parenting is hard; deciding where to go for a family-friendly road trip is harder. Here at Only In Your State, we’re big fans of travel and adventure, and we’ve put together lots of awesome road trips in the past. Today, we thought, “What about putting together a trip for families with kids?”, so here we are! This is a delightful, two-day adventure that the kids will love, and better still, there’s not a lot of drive time involved. Check out this family-friendly road trip in North Dakota next time you – and the kids – are clamoring for an escape. Follow along by clicking here for the official route on Google Maps!
We'll begin our journey in Bismarck and make our way east to Fargo.
This 90-acre safe haven for critters has been a local family favorite since 1961. It's home to more than 600 fascinating critters, big and small, and the kids will love it! In terms of zoos, this one is "big" for North Dakota standards, but pretty small for national ones - it only sees about 150,000 visitors each year, which means it's rarely so crowded that it's no longer fun to visit. Check out the official website for tickets, hours, programs, and more.
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Next, take the kids for a spin on a real riverboat!
We imagine the zoo might take a few hours, so the second (and final) activity for the first day is a pleasant tour of the Missouri River. Tours aren't terribly long - about two hours - so this is the perfect way to unwind at the end of a long, active day at the zoo. Reservations are recommended before you arrive, so be sure to plan for that as well. Visit the official website for booking information and more.
The one pictured above is an adorable Bismarck stay that's perfect for families with kids, so it's perfect for our little adventure. Enjoy a colorful setting and all sorts of fun amenities like board games, arcade games, and more! If you like the sound of that, you can learn more about it on its official listing.
Get up bright and early and bring the little ones to see the world's biggest buffalo on your way to our next destination.
It stands proudly outside the North Dakota Buffalo Museum, which is a delightfully educational experience for adults and kids alike. Marvel at the world's largest buffalo statue while you're here and make sure to get lots of photos! Learn more about the museum in this previous article.
That's right, another zoo. Know why? Because it's one of North Dakota's best! The Red River Zoo is in Fargo and is a relatively new addition to the city's delightful list of must-see things to do. In 2016, new additions in the form of the Children's Zoo Farm and Nature's Playland opened up, making Red River Zoo one of the best places to bring kids in the entire northern Midwest. Be sure to get your tickets ahead of time on the official website.
Finally, we'll finish up this delightful journey with a visit to the Northern Air Family Fun Center.
Encourage the kids to purge all that built-up energy from all this excitement at a place where they can almost literally bounce off the walls. If your little ones are too little for trampolines, no worries - there's also a bounce section the smaller ones will love. Check out the official website for more information about this delightful final stop on our epic family-friendly road trip in North Dakota.
So, there you have it – an awesome escape for you and the little ones that everyone in the family is going to enjoy. Which stops are you looking forward to the most? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
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