Best Scenic Road Trips in North Dakota

North Dakota features ten designated scenic byways and backways that connect the badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park to the shorelines of Lake Sakakawea. These routes, ranging from the 108-mile Old Red Old Ten to the 23-mile Sakakawea Scenic Byway, span river valleys, prairie potholes, and forested hills across the Great Plains.

Which routes offer the best views of the North Dakota badlands?

The South Unit Scenic Loop Drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park provides the state’s most concentrated stretch of badlands driving. The 36-mile loop includes Buck Hill, the park’s highest road-accessible point at 2,855 feet, and Wind Canyon, where the Little Missouri River bends.

The North Unit Scenic Byway offers a 28-mile round-trip experience that is described as wilder than the South Unit. Notable stops include the Cannonball Concretions, where erosion has revealed sandstone spheres, and the Edge of Glacier Pullout.

Travelers should note that the North Unit operates on Central time, while the South Unit operates on Mountain time. The National Park Service suggests a minimum of 90 minutes for the South Unit, though three to four hours is considered more realistic due to bison frequently blocking the road.

Did You Know? The Hi-Line Railroad Bridge in Valley City is a 3,860-foot structure built in 1908 that carries the BNSF main line 162 feet above the river.

What historical sites can be visited along these byways?

The Sakakawea Scenic Byway is a 23-mile route between Washburn and Stanton focused on Lewis and Clark history. It features the North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, the reconstructed Fort Mandan winter post, and the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.

The Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway runs 35 miles through the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. This route marks the original 1890 burial site of Sitting Bull and is regarded as the final resting place of Sakakawea according to oral tradition.

Other historical markers include the Killdeer Mountain Battlefield State Historic Site, which commemorates a July 28, 1864, battle, and the Standing Rock State Historic Site, which protects Native American burial mounds dating from 100 BC to 600 AD.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the contrast between the high-traffic South Unit and the lower-traffic North Unit creates a distinct trade-off for visitors between convenience and a wilderness experience. This divide highlights how infrastructure and accessibility directly influence the perceived “wildness” of protected landscapes.

How does the Enchanted Highway differ from traditional scenic byways?

The Enchanted Highway is a 32-mile folk-art corridor on County Highway 21 between Gladstone and Regent. Instead of natural vistas, the route features seven massive scrap-metal sculptures created by former school principal Gary Greff starting in 1989.

The sculptures include “Geese in Flight,” which stands 110 feet tall, and “Salem Sue,” a 38-foot fiberglass cow located on the separate Old Red Old Ten byway. The state allocated $75,000 in its 2019-2020 budget to support the upkeep of the Enchanted Highway.

What are the most remote or unique landscapes in the state?

The Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway runs 53 miles through forested hills along the Canadian border. It includes the International Peace Garden, a 2,339-acre site established in 1932 that requires a passport or government ID for entry.

Road Trip #811 – Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway – Taylor/Richardton, North Dakota

The Rendezvous Region Backway covers 33.5 miles in the northeast corner of the state. It features the Pembina Gorge, one of the state’s deepest river valleys, and the only river in North Dakota with runnable whitewater during May and June.

The Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway follows a meltwater trench carved 13,000 years ago. The valley reaches depths of 330 feet and widths of one mile between Baldhill Dam and Lisbon.

What should travelers expect regarding timing and access?

The primary travel window for most routes is from summer through mid-October. Specific seasonal events, such as peak blooms at the International Peace Garden from mid-July through August, may influence timing.

Road conditions can vary, as erosion has closed sections of the South Unit Scenic Loop in recent years. Some routes, such as the Rendezvous Region Backway, include gravel sections rather than paved roads.

Because many routes pass through remote areas, travelers may need to carry downloaded maps and maintain full fuel tanks once they leave larger towns. Future access could be affected by seasonal weather or ongoing erosion in the badlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest designated scenic byway in North Dakota?
The Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway is the longest, spanning 108 miles between Mandan and Dickinson.

Is there an entrance fee for Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Entrance is $30 per vehicle, which remains valid for seven days for both the North and South units.

What is required to visit the International Peace Garden?
Visitors must present a passport or a government-issued ID card to enter the garden.

Which of these North Dakota landscapes would you prefer to explore first?