These 8 Towns In North Dakota Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2025

Nestled amid wide-open prairies, shimmering lakes, and the rugged badlands of North Dakota, you will find a surprising lineup of towns that have become favorite destinations in the United States. From vibrant college towns to serene escapes and historic frontier outposts, the eight communities featured here each offer a flavor of the Peace Garden State. Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures, cultural heritage, or a change of pace, these towns are proving they are more than just fly-over territories and that they are definitely worth a visit in 2025.

Bottineau

The town of Bottineau is named for Pierre Bottineau, a fur trader, scout, and land speculator. Originally known as Oak Creek, the town, which today houses 2,200 people, was named Bottineau in 1884 to honor him. Just 10 miles south of the Canadian border in Bottineau County, Bottineau sits at the foot of Turtle Mountain. It is an ideal spot to visit if you are looking for an intriguing northern destination that is close to Canada.

Bottineau is home to Dakota College at Bottineau, which opened in 1907 as the North Dakota School of Forestry. Today, the college offers degrees in fields other than forestry, such as web design, healthcare, and information technology. Outdoor lovers should check out Turtle Mountain State Forest, with more than 7,500 acres of forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as 18 miles of multi-use trails. Golfers can hit the links at Bottineau Country Club, an 81-year-old golf club whose course is open to the public.

Dickinson

The Stark County town of Dickinson, population 25,000, is in the southwestern part of the state. This suburban town, halfway between Fargo, North Dakota, and Billings, Montana, provides visitors with a relaxed pace of life, including an abundance of natural resources and activities.

Scrap metal sculptures in Dickinson, North Dakota. Image credit JWCohen via Shutterstock

The Dickinson Museum Center within Dickinson State University houses various exhibits. The Theodore Roosevelt Center is also at Dickinson State University, and includes a model of one of Roosevelt's libraries and first editions of his books. Golfers can hit the links at the Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson.

Grafton

Grafton, the county seat of Walsh County, sits in North Dakota's Red River Valley in the northeastern part of the state and is home to about 4,100 residents. The beautiful Red River Valley attracts many retirees to call Grafton their new home.

Four miles of walking trails exist in Grafton's Leistikow Park. If you are fond of indoor ice skating, try out the Centennial Center's public ice rink. Golfers can play nine holes at Fair Oaks Golf Course, offering challenging play for golfers at every skill level.

Jamestown

Stutsman County's county seat, Jamestown, is between Bismarck and Fargo in the eastern part of North Dakota, and is home to 15,800 residents. It is famous for the University of Jamestown as well as the World's Largest Buffalo monument, a 26-foot-tall and 60-ton concrete buffalo created in 1959.

Dakota Thunder, the Worlds Largest Buffalo Monument in Jamestown, North Dakota. — Dakota Thunder, the world's Largest Buffalo Monument in Jamestown, North Dakota. Image credit Steve Cukrov via stock.adobe

Fans of the author Louis L'Amour, a Jamestown native, can follow in his footsteps with the Audio Tour, a self-guided walking tour of historical sites in Jamestown such as his childhood home and the library. Sports fans won't want to miss the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Jamestown Civic Center, honoring individuals who have made contributions to the growth and development of sports in North Dakota, such as Roger Maris and Phil Jackson.

Medora

The small town of Medora, the county seat of Billings County, is in the Badlands of North Dakota and is home to about 120 people. Medora was a Gold Winner of the 2024 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for excellence as a family-friendly destination. It is well-known for the Medora Musical, a musical theatre show running from June through September for more than 60 years that combines history with family-friendly humor.

View of the main street in Medora, North Dakota. — Main street in Medora, North Dakota. Image credit EQRoy via Shutterstock

The Maltese Cross Cabin in Medora was once owned and used by Theodore Roosevelt and can be visited today. Golfers may wish to hit the links at Bully Pulpit Golf Course, with 18 holes in Medora's downtown area open to the public.

Minot

The fourth most populated city in North Dakota, home to 48,000 people, Minot, the county seat of Ward County, is in the north-central part of the state. It is just 50 miles from the Canadian border.

Minot State University has been serving the area since 1913 and is famous for its top-notch nursing program. Minot is the site of the North Dakota State Fair, the largest event in the state, every July. An interesting place to see in Minot is the Scandinavian Heritage Park, which contains replicas from each of the five Scandinavian and Nordic countries: Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. The Norsk Hostfest, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America, takes place in Minot every fall.

Rugby

Rugby, with a population of 2,500, is the county seat of Pierce County as well as the Geographic Center of North America. It is a must-see for the 21-foot-high, 6-foot-wide monument honoring that fact.

Rugby's Northern Lights Tower is another landmark that must be seen, as it is an 88 1/2-foot-tall steel tower honoring the Aurora Borealis. The Rugby Golf Club is perfect for golfers looking to play a quick nine holes. The Prairie Village and Museum has 21 historic buildings and seven exhibition halls telling the story of Rugby's history, for those who are history buffs.

Valley City

Valley City can be found in the southeastern part of the state's Sheyenne River Valley. It is the Barnes County seat, just 60 miles west of Fargo. About 6,500 live in Valley City, and it is a popular spot not just for its proximity to Fargo but also for its own interesting sites.

Valley City University has been serving the area since 1890. The university is home to the Valley City State Planetarium, the only planetarium in the state, which is open to the public. Valley City's Highline Railroad Bridge, spanning 3,860 feet and rising 162 feet above the Sheyenne River, is considered one of the highest and longest single-track railroad bridges in the US. Medicine Wheel Park contains 30 acres, including a medicine wheel solar calendar, Native American burial mounds, and a walking trail.

Best Natural Wonders To Visit In North Dakota This YearNorth Dakota’s wild beauty often surprises visitors, offering more than endless prairies and open skies.

Peace Garden or Roughrider: You Choose

Whether you wish to call North Dakota the Peace Garden State (honoring the garden that straddles the international border between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada) or the Roughrider State (recognizing the cowboy members of Roosevelt's First US Volunteer Cavalry in the Spanish-American War), you should not miss visiting these eight towns in North Dakota. Each of them has its own attractions and landmarks to entice visitors to choose these destinations.

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