North Dakota Travel Guide
Known for its vast prairies, western badlands, and leading agriculture, North Dakota is perfect for anyone looking to travel off the beaten path. While the mostly flat landscape may not put North Dakota at the top of your bucket list, there’s a certain beauty in the amber waves of grain.
This Wild West state is more than farmland.
North Dakota is also home to an incredible National Park. The scenic badlands covering the western edge of the state are abundant with wildlife and also played an important role in the nation’s history. Once home to Teddy Roosevelt, they’re what inspired him to create the National Park System when he became president.
Destinations
North Dakota Basics
Nickname: The Peace Garden State
Capital City: Bismarck
Timezones:
Central Standard & Central Daylight (majority of the state)
Mountain Standard & Mountain Daylight (southwest)
Climate: Continental (four distinct seasons marked by warm summers and cold, windy winters)
Major Airport: Minot (MOT)
Local Cuisine: Bison, juneberries, chokecherries, kuchen, fleischkuekle, summer sausage
Notable Wildlife: Bison, moose, elk, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, wild horses, and rattlesnakes
Best Time to Visit
SUMMER
June through early September is a great time to visit North Dakota! Days and nights are warm; however, with very little tree cover for shade, the sun can be intense.
AUTUMN
Comfortable temperatures make fall an excellent time to visit North Dakota. Days are usually warm, but it gets quite chilly come night, so be sure to pack layers. Autumn is also pretty short-lived. By late October, winter starts to set in across the state.
WINTER
North Dakota has the coldest winters in the contiguous United States. With vast flatlands, winds are strong and harsh, dropping the temperature well into the negatives. Visibility can also be poor due to blowing snow, making travel difficult or dangerous. For these reasons, winter isn’t a great time to visit North Dakota.
SPRING
This is a short and unpredictable season in North Dakota. It’s known for being sunny and warm one day and then cold and snowing the next. Late spring can be a good time to visit, but keep in mind that you may experience some bizarre temperature swings, rain, or high winds.
North Dakota Travel Guides
