Hit The Highway On A Scenic Road Trip In North Dakota

Most of us will probably agree that any time's a great time for a road trip, and there's no better place to hit the road than in our beautiful state. The scenic road trip in North Dakota will take you in a complete round trip in the western part of the state. It starts in Medora, but you can begin at any part of the route. If you can't get out to the western half, no worries - there will be road trips for some other regions in the state in the near future.

The scenic road trip in North Dakota runs about 9 hours and 40 minutes, plus some extra time to stop and see everything. You may want to split it into two days over a relaxing weekend. There are a lot of places to camp along the way, so consider sleeping under the stars to make this the perfect trip. Be prepared to see some of the most scenic and gorgeous parts of North Dakota on the ultimate western ND road trip.

To get the driving directions for this trip, you can view the map here.

1. Medora, ND

We begin in Medora, the very touristy, picturesque town that already can fill your day with activities by itself. There's plenty to do there as far as sightseeing, so set aside a lot of time for this place. It is in the heart of the North Dakota badlands and a great introduction to the rest of the beautiful places to follow. Learn more on the official website of Medora.

2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Next up is, of course, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There are two units - the north unit and the south unit - and both are equally impressive. Buffalo and horses roam free here, and the views are breathtaking. There are great camping opportunities, and this would be a great place to spend the night if you want to sleep out in nature and get the full, true experience. Here's the official website of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

3. Little Missouri National Grassland

Once you leave the park, it's time to start heading north. The route will take you through a lot of the Little Missouri National Grassland. It is massive (the largest grassland in the entire country) and beautiful, and it makes the long drive to our next stop worth it! Find more on the official website of Little Missouri National Grassland.

4. Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence

Our third stop is the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence, where the Missouri River and the Yellowstone River meet. The map will take you to the Interpretation Center for it, which has a great view of the confluence as well as some interesting history on the area. Stop by the official website of Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence for more information.

5. Lewis & Clark State Park

After driving through Williston and on your way to Lake Sakakawea, the next stop is Lewis & Clark State Park. It's the perfect rest stop to relax and get some good family or friends time in, whether that be fishing, swimming, or just taking in the view. Stop by the official website of Lewis & Clark State Park for more information.

6. Four Bears Memorial Bridge

On our way over the Missouri River to start our southern route back is the Four Bears Memorial Bridge near New Town, Sanish, and Four Bears Village. Such a pretty view of the river to continue our scenic route of North Dakota. Learn more about the Four Bears Memorial Bridge.

7. Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

If you need some more lake-side time on your road trip, here is one of the next best places and our next stop - Lake Ilo. It is located in a national wildlife refuge and is a great place to see water fowl, and it's also just a gorgeous area. Here's more information on Lake Ilo National Wildlife Area.

8. Enchanted Highway

As we're reaching the end of the road trip, the best route back is through the Enchanted Highway. This is the definition of the scenic route because it is basically a giant art gallery. There are huge metal sculptures lining the road of all sorts of things - like the huge, and I mean HUGE, deer pictured here. You can drive through and enjoy them or stop off at each to take some pictures. That just screams 'road trip material' right there - you can't skip this part! Find more information on and a map of Enchanted Highway.

9. White Butte

And now we've reached the summit of the road trip - the highest point in North Dakota! At 3,507 feet above sea level, it stands as the tallest spot in the state. You can hike to the top to say you've been there and check out the geological survey marker that's been there for over 50 years. It actually is quite pretty. It's definitely worth checking out!

Once you've stopped at White Butte, you can head back up north and then west once you hit I-94 to end up right back in Medora. There are a ton of other places like wildlife refuges, small towns, and lakes you could stop at along the way if you'd like to spend the extra time doing so. There are too many to put them all on one list, so it is up to you where to go.

Will you or have you gone on this scenic road trip in North Dakota? Share your experience in the comments! If you're a fan of the paranormal, you might want to add this haunted road trip in North Dakota to your to do list.