This peaceful riverside town in North Dakota is a perfect place for a day trip. With stunning scenery, interesting attractions, and plenty of history to explore, you could easily spend an entire day here or more. Whether you are visiting in the winter or taking a drive out to it in the summer, there’s so much to do and see for such a small city. Take a look for yourself:

Washburn, North Dakota is a scenic riverside town with a population of just about 1,300. It rests alongside the Missouri River.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
It was founded in 1882 and is a picture-perfect North Dakota small town with charming streets, grain elevators, and the full package.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Along with being a lovely ND town, Washburn is also loaded with history. It has been the county seat of McLean County since a year after it was founded.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Washburn is mostly notable for being the area where famous explorers Lewis and Clark wintered one year with the Mandan tribe. You can visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and explore a whole museum looking back at this.
Hilton Lieberum/Flickr

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Along with the center, you can also check out the fascinating reconstruction of Fort Mandan in Washburn. This impressive wooden fort will make you feel like you've stepped back in time.
Clare T/Tripadvisor
The history can easily fill up a whole afternoon, and you can fill up the rest of your day trip with a visit to the gorgeous Cross Ranch State Park a little ways down the river.
FredPurdue/Tripadvisor
Cross Ranch State Park lies alongside one of the last untouched stretches of the Missouri River and is stunningly scenic year round. There are trails, cabins, campgrounds, and everything else you need for a perfect visit.
NDPRD/Flickr
Enjoy the natural scenery, historic importance, and overall pleasantness of Washburn, North Dakota and you'll be glad you did.
NDPRD/Flickr

Have you ever visited Washburn? Many people have just for Cross Ranch State Park alone. It is one of North Dakota’s many wonderful parks that showcase different corners of the state. Click here for an entire list of state parks in ND that will bring out the explorer in you.

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