A Weekend Road Trip in Northern North Dakota
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You can find this Dala horse at the Scandinavian Heritage Center in Minot
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If you’re looking for a perfect weekend road trip in North Dakota in summer, you’ve come to the right place! A true North Dakota road trip should be on everyone’s bucket list! The state is full of wild, wonderful, and truly unique destinations and some of America’s coolest roadside attractions.
This North Dakota road trip will take you on a loop from Minot up to the North Dakota - Canadian border, to the shores of one of the most gorgeous lakes in North Dakota, to the geographical center of North America, and so much more! Get ready for good food, cool sites, and a great weekend in North Dakota!
This blog is written in a partnership with North Dakota Legendary, (North Dakota Tourism) but all opinions and experiences are my own.
Blue skies and sunshine on the shores of Lake Metigoshe.
Table of Contents
Click to Skip to:
Scandinavian Heritage Park
Prairie Sky Breads or With Room Coffee
Geographical Center of North America
International Peace Gardens
W’eel Turtle
Lake Metigoshe
Mystical Horizons
Tommy Turtle
Pride Dairy (Ice Cream)
When to Plan Your Roadtrip North of Minot
The best time to plan for your road trip from Minot is in the summer months. As we all know, North Dakota experiences cold winters. If you’re looking for a warm weekend getaway, plan to head out in June, July, or August. Those will the warmest and best months to get the amazing experience of North Dakota outdoors.
If you’re looking for a winter road trip getaway, you can head to Bottineau’s Winter Park or head up to the International Peace Gardens for some cross country skiing and snowshoeing!
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Minot has over 23 murals scattered around their downtown area - be sure to check them out
Map of the Road Trip Route
This North Dakota road trip will take you in a loop through the Northern part of the state. Feel Free to do the loop in either direction or to switch your time in Dunseith or Bottineau!
Minot, North Dakota
Minot is going to be the start and end of this epic weekend road trip itinerary through North Dakota. The Magic City has grown leaps and bounds over the years. Today it is home to many artisanal restaurants, 23 gorgeously painted murals in their downtown, gorgeous breweries and wineries, the future home of the Minot Discovery Center, and a host of outdoor recreation spots.
The Scandinavian Heritage Center!
Before you drive out of town, grab breakfast or an afternoon snack from Prairie Sky Breads. Here they have over 48 different flavors of scones, Espresso drinks, loaves of freshly baked bread, fruit smoothies, and even made to order breakfast sandwiches. A huge perk of eating inside is that they have a small play area for the kids to get creative while you sip coffee.
If you’re into coffee and plants check out the unique With Room Coffee. They specialize in delicious cold brew coffees and have a full breakfast menu. This gorgeous little café is full of plants! It feels like you’re walking into a café nestled in New York City, not North Dakota!
This weekend will be full of road tripping so be prepared with the best road trip snacks!
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The kids can play while you enjoy your coffee and scone at Prairie Sky Breads in Downtown Minot
With Room Coffee brings plants and cold brew coffee together in a unique café setting
Since you’ll be starting and ending your North Dakota Road trip in Minot, you can choose whether to add the Scandinavian Heritage to the start or end of your journey. Here at the the Heritage park, you’ll find remembrances and replicas from each of the five Scandinavian and Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Plan to spend at least 2 hours walking the grounds and exploring all of the replica buildings!
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This is a replica of the Stave Church in Norway
Geographical Center of North America in Rugby, ND
After the Scandinavian Heritage Park, it’s time to hit the road and head West! You’ll be on the road for about 75 minutes before you arrive in the quaint town of Rugby, ND. (Location C on the map!) This is the geographical center of North America! Be sure to snag a photo with the 21-foot-tall fieldstone located on the estimated center! We were surprised to realize how far North this monument is; it really shows how huge the landmass of Canada is!
If you’re feeling hungry or if you need a coffee, check out Coffee Cottage Café located next door!
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The Geographical Center of North America located in Rugby, North Dakota
Explore Dunseith
Dunseith is nestled along the border of North Dakota and Canada. It is home of the Turtle Mountains and the International Peace Gardens. Once you drive into Dunseith, you’ll see W’eel Turtle on the left side of the road. Feel free to stop and grab a photo with him before you head to the International Peace Garden.
The international peace garden is a gorgeous place to camp for the weekend or to spend an afternoon!
The International Peace Gardens: The Peace Gardens are a celebration of peace. They are a living monument to the ideals of friendship and cooperation among nations. There are 2,300 acres of uninterrupted prairie, forests and radiant floral gardens that are defined by nature, not borders. The Peace Garden offers biking and hiking trails, kayak and canoeing along the lakes, several picnic areas ,a museum, a gift shop, and a brand new fully immersive play area for children. They are also building a brand new state of the art conservatory for one of the world’s most unique collections of cacti and succulents. You can spend an afternoon or a full weekend exploring the gardens!
If you are looking for a unique place to stay this weekend, consider camping at the Peace Gardens or renting one of their Cabins!
Peace Garden Day Pass Rates:
Pedestrian/Pedal Bike – $10
Military Rate – $15
Passenger Vehicle – $25
Motorcycle (per rider) – $10
Or if you are a North Dakota Resident and plan to visit often, consider an Annual Membership for only $40.
PRO TIP: If you have a passport, bring it! It will make crossing the border back into the United States a much smoother process. Otherwise, you can re-enter with a government-issued ID with copy of birth certificate.
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W’eel Turtle in Dunseith is a perfect place to stop and stretch your legs!
It’s fun to walk through the gardens and hop back and forth from cananda to North dakota
Explore Bottineau and the surrounding area
As you leave the Peace Gardens, you’ll head South and turn right toward Lake Metigoshe State Park. (F on the Map)
Lake Metigoshe State Park is one of the most popular year-round vacation spots in North Dakota. Inside the state park, there are opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and birding on the smaller lakes. There are over 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout the park too. There is also a sandy beach dedicated for swimming in the lake during the summer months. While exploring the State Park, keep an eye out for the wide variety of plant, animal, and bird species seldom seen elsewhere in North Dakota
Lake Metigshe State Park has many amazing waterside cabins for rent as well as a really nice campground. Consider staying in the park on your weekend road trip!
Lake Metigoshe State Park is an amazing place to connect with the North Dakota wilderness
Pay a visit to Mystical Horizons. (G on the map) This is a 21-Century Stonehenge! If you’ve never experienced a working sundial, this spot is amazing. The sundial is adjusted to show central standard time and it’s accuracy is amazing. The other Stone and Cement structures are designed to view the summer solstice, winter solstice, and the equinox. As you look past the structures, there are breathtaking views overlooking farmland west of the nearby Turtle Mountains. We visited this spot at Sunset and I highly recommend it. The sun light coming in is gorgeous at that time of day. Mystical Horizons is also one of the best spots in North Dakota to witness the Northern Lights!
Mystical Horizons is a great spot for sunset!
Once you leave Mystical Horizons, you’ll start the drive South back toward Minot. You’ll be driving through the quaint town of Bottineau which is home to Tommy Turtle! Tommy Turtle is a 30 foot, 3-ton turtle mounted on top of a 24 foot long snowmobile. He is the largest turtle in the world and sits on the largest snow mobile is the in the world! A random, but fun place to stop and stretch your legs on your drive. As a bonus, there is a nice playground located right next to Tommy, so grab your photos and let the kids play for a bit!
If you are looking to grab lunch before you head out of town, check out Family Bakery & Restaurant for some diner style comfort food or delicious fresh made donuts. If you’re only looking for a quick snack, head to Pride’s Dairy for scoop ice cream and local cheeses, butter, and meats! Pride’s Dairy was named North Dakota’s best ice cream in 2010!
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The kids playing on tommy turtle in Bottineau
Family Bakery has a huge selection of freshly made donuts and also a diner-style restaurant with comfort foods
Pride Dairy ice cream in bottineau was voted the best ice cream in north dakota. This is the smore’s cowpie - definitely reccomend it!
J. Clark Salyer Wildlife Refuge
J. Clark Salyer Wildlife refuge is located only 55 minutes North of Minot, North Dakota and is the last stop on your road trip! (I on the map) This refuge is home to over 250 bird species include waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds. J. Clark Salyer is a critical sanctuary for thousands of these. migratory birds. Here in the refuge you can go fishing, hiking, or take a guided tour!
However, birds aren’t the only think you’ll find! The refuge is also home to porcupine, moose, coyote, muskrat, deer, and beaver. If you’re family love wildlife spotting, then bring your binoculars and see which animals you can spot!
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J. Clark Salyer wildlife refuge is a perfect place for birdwatching
downtown minot must be explored! so many murals and delicous places to eat!
North Dakota is one of America’s best kept secrets. North Dakota summers are the absolute perfect time to hit the road and explore all this awesome state has to offer. My hope is that this guide helps you find the some of the many hidden gems in North Dakota, including the best road trip food stops, best places to stay on your North Dakota road trip, and some of the cool roadside attractions along the route! There is so much amazing wildlife, pristine lake views, endless rolling prairies, incredible morning weather, wildflowers, and even an international garden that will take your breathe away. No matter whether you camp in the park or stay in in the lake side cabins, your summer North Dakota Road trip will be an unforgettable adventure.
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