The Ultimate North Dakota Hidden Gem Road Trip Will Take You To 10 Incredible Little-Known Spots In The State

It’s a sad fact that North Dakota is anything but a top tourist destination in the United States. In fact, it’s one of the least visited states in the entire country. Why is this sad? Because it’s obvious so many people don’t realize what they’re missing out on! The Peace Garden State is absolutely full of amazing places to visit, from stunning natural scenery to fun and unique attractions. On this route, we’ve put together a hidden gem road trip in North Dakota that highlights some of the coolest places to visit in the state that not enough people know about – even state residents!

Are you ready to take on this drive? Pack up the car and hit the road to visit these 10 lesser-known destinations.

Google maps

This route will take you all around North Dakota in about 11 hours of drive time. This would probably be best done over a long weekend so you can spend a decent amount of time at each stop, spending the night in a few places along the way. For a full route with driving directions, follow this link to Google maps. Let's go!

Ken Lund/Flickr

To start our trip, we'll go to what is considered one of the most underrated hidden gems in the state. The stunning International Peace Garden sits right on the US-Canada border, just outside the North Dakota town of Dunseith. There are incredibly designed flowerbeds, art installments, and greenhouses with plants from all over the continent.

More Information: International Peace Garden website

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The next stop, heading west, is Lake Metigoshe State Park. Many people think North Dakota has nothing but flat expanses of fields, and places like this totally prove them wrong. This scenic spot of lakes, marsh, and forest is nestled in the Turtle Mountains. Stop here for a picnic and a hike and you won't regret it.

More Information: Lake Metigoshe State Park webpage

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Head southwest towards Minot, North Dakota after Lake Metigoshe. Here, you'll find the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. Straddling 35 beautiful miles of the Souris, or Mouse, River, you'll find many amazing views. This area is especially pretty in the spring or fall when the migratory birds are headed through, but you can visit it any time of the year.

More Information: Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge webpage

J. Keith Maxwell/Google

Now we'll head to the second-largest man-made lake in the United States, Lake Sakakawea. This lake, formed by a dam on the Missouri River, will need to be crossed to continue our journey. Before you go over the Four Bears Memorial Bridge, stop by this recreation area. The view is one of the most stunning in the entire state. You can see miles and miles of water and a great shot of the bridge. It's just an all-around amazing spot to be. Plus, you can learn more about the history of the area and what it was like before the dam was built.

More Information: Crow Flies High State Recreation Area webpage

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NDPRD/Flickr

After reaching the other side of Lake Sakakawea, head south into the badlands. Although many people do know about the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, further west from here, not as many know that there is another amazing park to enjoy the iconic painted canyons: the Little Missouri State Park. The photo speaks for itself!

More Information: Little Missouri State Park webpage

NDPRD/Flickr

We crossed the lake and looked at it from a hilltop previously, and now we can go and truly appreciate it. This lake has more miles of coastline than the entire state of California (yes, really), and Lake Sakakawea State Park is one of the many great places where you can enjoy it. This place is perfect for an outdoor lunch or an overnight stay at the campground or cabins. There are trails, a swimming beach, and more.

More Information: Lake Sakakawea State Park webpage

Lynnae Neuberger/Google

While Lake Sakakawea is impressive, it's the Missouri River that we can appreciate for its existence. This river is one of the most important parts of North Dakota history. Today, most of the river has been developed in some way, but the Cross Ranch State Park features one of the last undeveloped tracts of the river left. View the mighty Missouri in its natural state right here.

More Information: Cross Ranch State Park webpage

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Jamie Cook/Google

Let's continue further south, following the Missouri River, and stop right on the banks of the river in North Dakota's capital city at a beautiful zoo. The Dakota Zoo is a riverside zoo featuring hundreds of animals, including tigers, bears, leopards, monkeys, and more.

More Information: Dakota Zoo website

pjah73/Flickr

After exploring the Dakota Zoo and anywhere else you'd like to stop by in Bismarck, head east along I-94 towards Jamestown. Here, you'll find another fun animal-themed attraction: the National Buffalo Museum. Visit Dakota Thunder, the world's largest buffalo, and see a live herd of bison that once included the world's only true albino bison.

More Information: National Buffalo Museum website

Jeff Newell/Google

For our final destination, we head back north towards where we started and stop by Devils Lake. There is a small town on the edge of the lake called Fort Totten and within it the Fort Totten State Historic Site. Beautifully preserved and restored, this site is perfect for a stroll. Learn about North Dakota history in this barely-known spot, and later you can spend some time at the lake, too.

More Information: Fort Totten State Historic Site

After all that, you might have found a few new places you’ve never heard of before that are now your favorite! Some of these destinations are ideal for repeat visits. When you’re done with this road trip, why not try this other North Dakota road trip that will take you to the state’s most picturesque small towns?