6 Most Scenic Drives in North Dakota

The hack to life is occasionally jumping behind the wheel and cruising along roads that feature leaping waterfalls, fields of daffodils, and endless rolling hills. With its badlands and wind-swept prairie, North Dakota boasts several scenic drives that offer opportunities to decompress, regain one's sanity, and enjoy a touch of freedom and spontaneity on the open road. You only need enough gasoline, a good camera, and a soothing playlist. Keep reading to discover six of the most scenic drives in North Dakota.

Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway

The Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway, which features some of western North Dakota's most enchanting landscapes, is a 64-mile wonder trip that starts near the town of Manning, winds through Killdeer along ND 22, and then slides to ND 23 to New Town. You will enjoy lovely vistas of the rugged Killdeer Mountains, beautiful badlands, Lake Sakakawea, and the Missouri River. Lake Sakakawea is North Dakota's largest lake and a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Places to pull over include Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge, which is a much sought-after birder's paradise, Killdeer Battlefield State Historic Site, and the Little Missouri State Park, which features colorful canyons and over 40 miles of hiking and horseback-riding trails.

Sakakawea Scenic Byway

To some extent, the story of America, especially after the consequential Louisiana Purchase, is the story of an interesting but dangerous expedition led by two of America's most enterprising individuals: Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark. Lewis was once President Thomas Jefferson's personal secretary and aide-de-camp. Today, you can follow the course of these two celebrated explorers on the high grounds above the winding Missouri River and discover the fascinating history and culture of the people who lived in the wooded valleys of the Missouri and Knife rivers. If you love American history, several stops will make you feel like a child in a candy shop. These include the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton, and the Fort Clark State Historic Site. This drive starts at the town of Washburn, spans 70 miles, and ends in Stanton.

Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway

There is something about the rustic beauty of gently rolling farmland, open prairie, and dancing wildflowers that almost makes the glitter of glass and the architecture of concrete edifices irredeemably uninspiring. Fortunately, that is part of Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway’s appeal, a trip that dazzles for about 108 miles from Mandan to Dickinson, the “Queen City of the Prairies.” Originally referred to as “the Red Trail that became Old Highway 10,” this unforgettable trip is the quintessential step-back-in-time adventure, especially as it provides a glimpse of how life was many years ago for those settling in North Dakota. Unmissable highlights include the North Dakota State Railroad Museum, Salem Sue, billed as the world's largest Holstein cow sculpture, and the Schnell Recreation Area in Richardson, a non-motorized area with good opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature photography.

Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway

As you cruise from north of Valley City at Getchell Township Hall, whose fascinating history goes back to the 1880s, to the town of Lisbon through Valley City proper, Kathryn, and Fort Ransom, the beguiling beauty that you encounter along the stretch makes 63 miles end like a whisper in the wind. Tree-specked hills follow you along the journey, as you pass through a decent number of quaint towns, some of which look frozen in time. Not just that, North Dakota's first nationally recognized scenic byway features history and culture at their finest, including more than 40 award-winning interpretive panels. The trick is to provide enough time, so you can make the most of your many stops. Baldhill Dam, for instance, located at Lake Ashtabula, has a history that dates back to the 1950s. Other points of interest include Medicine Wheel Park, a 30-acre park with a medicine wheel solar calendar, a beautiful perennial garden, Indian burial mounds, and a scenic overlook. Fort Ransom State Park, located amid the heavily wooded valley, is not to be missed either.

Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway

History comes alive on a journey along the Missouri River to an area where Lakota chief Sitting Bull lived and died. Sitting Bull was a Hunkpapa Lakota and a courageous warrior who would sit calmly, sharing a pipe with soldiers as bullets buzzed around. Lewis and Clark stopped 14 times along the route, and famous mountain men, including Jim Bridger, passed through it as well. The byway starts near the Indian community at the Cannonball River, goes to Fort Yates, and proceeds to Mobridge, S.D. It often runs parallel to the Missouri River. Peel your eyes for the Prairie Knights Marina, the 371,000-acre Lake Oahe (it offers public access), and Sitting Bull’s original burial site in Fort Yates, hoping to get filled with a fraction of his legendary courage.

Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway

This byway snakes through the serene beauty of the Turtle Mountains, an area of considerable natural appeal, passing farmsteads, beautiful blue lakes, and tree-covered wildlife areas. The rolling plains were once checkered with buffalo, elk in the streambeds, deer in abundance, and trout-rich brooks. It spans slightly more than 50 miles and starts north of Rolla, a small, charming town known for its Finnish heritage, and ends at ND State Highway 14 west of St. John. Points of interest include the International Peace Garden, which features radiant floral gardens, the swoon-worthy Lake Metigoshe State Park, and Lake Upsilon, where you can cast a line in crystal-clear waters and reel in any number of fish species. Turtle Mountain Byway is particularly known for providing spectacular views of the prairie.

Wheat fields, wide open skies, and beautiful rolling hills are just as scenic as white-sand beaches, rows of palm trees, and swinging hammocks. North Dakota offers much of the former through its scenic drives and trips that make you feel reborn. You will be chased by badlands, peaceful farmlands, and beautiful blue lakes, depending on the route you pick. So next time you crave a therapeutic escape, any of these scenic drives will work like a doctor's prescription; the trick is to curate an unhurried schedule!