Explore North Dakota history, dinosaur exhibits and the children’s Treehouse at a free state museum.
The state museum on the Capitol grounds brings together fossils, artifacts and interactive exhibits about North Dakota. The Treehouse gives younger visitors a place to explore, while the wider galleries offer a longer visit for families and history enthusiasts. It is an indoor option to pair with a walk around the nearby Capitol grounds.
Free museum admission
History and paleontology galleries
Children’s Treehouse discovery area
Accessible entrances and elevators
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the museum parking areas on the Capitol grounds. The Northern Lights Atrium entrance is on the east side; a west entrance is also available.
Regular museum hours differ on weekdays and weekends, and holiday closures apply. Adults must supervise children in the Treehouse. Check the visitor page before planning a holiday visit.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
See a historic military-post site, a steam locomotive and early Bismarck buildings downtown.
Camp Hancock preserves part of the military installation created during construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Its former headquarters now interprets local history, and the grounds include a railway locomotive and the Bread of Life Church. The outdoor signs make this a useful downtown history stop even when the buildings are closed.
Outdoor interpretive signs
1909 Northern Pacific steam locomotive
Bread of Life Church
Former officers’ quarters and local-history exhibits
Good to know before you go
Getting there: The site is on East Main Avenue in downtown Bismarck, beside the railroad corridor. Use the public entrance and check parking signs.
The grounds are open year-round. Building access is for events, school tours, rentals and appointments; do not expect daily museum hours. Admission is free, with donations welcome.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Visit a restored Victorian governor’s residence, carriage-house exhibits and heritage gardens.
Built in 1884, this house served as North Dakota’s governors’ residence from 1893 to 1960. Rooms show furnishings, changing architectural tastes and the restoration process. The carriage house and gardens add outdoor and transportation-history stops to a visit, making it a different experience from the larger state museum.
Restored Victorian house
Carriage-house transportation exhibit
Heritage flower gardens
Free admission; donations welcome
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Find the historic mansion on East Avenue B in central Bismarck. Check with the site before arranging an off-season indoor visit.
Daily public building hours are seasonal, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. During the rest of the year, arrange an appointment or attend a published event. Grounds remain open year-round; access inside the mansion is limited for some mobility needs.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Explore the Capitol’s prairie-inspired architecture, public grounds and guided building tours.
The North Dakota Capitol is a working government building as well as a landmark. A guided tour introduces its interior and state history, while the surrounding grounds offer a separate outdoor stop. The neighboring Heritage Center makes it easy to combine the two places in one Bismarck outing.
Guided Capitol tours
Prairie-inspired Art Deco details
Capitol grounds and monuments
Nearby Heritage Center
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the visitor entrance and check in at the Information Desk on the ground floor for a tour. Follow posted visitor-parking and building-access instructions.
The current official schedule offers tours Monday through Friday, with walk-ins welcome. Guided tours are generally unavailable on weekends and holidays. Larger groups should arrange a tour ahead; check for schedule changes.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Explore reconstructed earthlodges, military history, river views and trails south of Mandan.
Fort Abraham Lincoln brings Mandan village history and the later military post together in one state park. On-a-Slant’s reconstructed earthlodges, blockhouses and the visitor-center museum provide several ways to learn about the area. Trails climb into the surrounding hills, and the campground offers an overnight base beside the rivers.
On-a-Slant reconstructed earthlodges
Historic fort buildings and blockhouses
Hiking and biking trails
Riverfront camping
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Follow Highway 1806 south from Mandan, then the signs for Fort Lincoln Road and the state park. Use the official park map to choose the right visitor area.
Check park admission, camping and tour fees separately. Living-history tours and access to some structures are seasonal; the Commissary is listed as closed for the season at this check. Confirm the available buildings and trails before an off-season visit.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Walk through a Mandan village site with visible earthworks and Missouri River bluff views.
Double Ditch preserves the remains of a Mandan earthlodge community north of Bismarck. Depressions and defensive earthworks help visitors read the village layout, while interpretive information explains its history. This is an outdoor archaeological landscape rather than a reconstructed village or an indoor museum.
Mandan village earthworks
Outdoor historic interpretation
Missouri River setting
Good to know before you go
Getting there: The official site places the village seven and one-half miles north of Bismarck along Highway 1804. Look for the signed historic-site entrance.
The site is open year-round, but conditions affect outdoor access. Stay on established paths, leave artifacts undisturbed and use the official site information for current access details.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Follow interpretive signs through an early fortified village site east of Bismarck.
Menoken preserves the earthworks of a small village dated to around AD 1200. The site predates settlements that can be confidently linked to the later Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples. A walking tour explains the defensive ditch and house locations, making it a focused stop for visitors interested in the region’s early history.
Interpretive walking tour
Visible fortification features
National Historic Landmark
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use 171st Street Northeast and the signed site entrance. The State Historical Society places it about one and one-half miles northeast of Menoken.
Open year-round with free admission; donations are welcome. This is an outdoor archaeological site. Leave artifacts and earthworks undisturbed, and prepare for weather and uneven ground.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
See the layout of a large Mandan village beside the Missouri River south of Mandan.
Huff’s surviving house depressions and fortifications reveal a carefully planned Mandan settlement from about AD 1450. Interpretive signs guide visitors through the village landscape. Unlike the reconstructed earthlodges at Fort Abraham Lincoln, the interest here is in the visible archaeological traces and their relationship to the river.
Interpretive village walking tour
Rows of house depressions
Defensive ditch and village earthworks
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Follow Highway 1806 south from Mandan. The official site is one-half mile south of Huff; use the marked historic-site entrance.
The site is open year-round with free admission; donations are welcome. Plan for an outdoor visit and leave archaeological features undisturbed. Check access information before visiting in winter.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Take in river-bluff views and walk an interpretive trail through a Mandan village site.
Above Pioneer Park, this overlook pairs views of the Missouri River with the remains of a Mandan earthlodge village. The short interpretive trail explains the village, and other trails connect the overlook with the riverfront below. It is a separate uphill stop from Pioneer Park’s picnic and play areas.
0.55-mile interpretive trail
Missouri River overlook
Village earthworks
Playground and trail connections
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Enter from Burnt Boat Drive above Pioneer Park. The published address is for the overlook, rather than the lower riverfront park.
The vehicle gate is normally open May through October depending on weather. Confirm gate access for an off-season visit. The interpretive trail is unpaved; leave village features undisturbed.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Visit animal exhibits and plan a family outing near Bismarck’s Missouri River parks.
Dakota Zoo is a distinct ticketed attraction beside Sertoma Park, with exhibits featuring animals from North America and other regions. Visitors can combine a zoo visit with nearby park time, but should plan the zoo portion around its own admission and opening schedule. The available experience changes with the season.
Animal exhibits and education
Family outing near Sertoma Park
Published seasonal visitor schedule
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Enter 602 Riverside Park Road in your maps app, then follow the zoo signs through the park to the admission entrance.
Admission is separate from the surrounding park. The published winter schedule begins in October and lists Friday–Sunday afternoons, weather permitting. Check current hours, prices and available attractions before leaving.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Spend time along the river with playgrounds, picnic areas, trails and outdoor fitness spaces.
Sertoma stretches along the Missouri River with several different areas to explore. Its paved loop and Bill Mills Nature Trail offer walking options, while playgrounds, shelters and public art give families places to pause. Dakota Zoo and the amusement park have their own operators and visitor requirements.
Paved loop connected to the Riverfront Trail
Bill Mills Nature Trail
Playgrounds and picnic shelters
Outdoor fitness and public art
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use Riverside Park Road and the official park map to select a parking area near your chosen playground, shelter or trail.
Choose a shelter or activity area on the park map before arriving: this is a large park. Shelter reservations, seasonal facilities and independently operated attractions have separate arrangements.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Enjoy riverfront play areas, public art and the relocated Lewis and Clark keelboat replica.
Pioneer Park offers a riverfront picnic stop with a playground, volleyball courts and connections to the Riverfront Trail. Its Rising Eagle sculpture adds a public-art stop. The replica keelboat was moved here when the former Keelboat Park space was redeveloped in 2025, so this is the current park to visit for that feature.
Keelboat replica and interpretation
Rising Eagle sculpture
Playground and picnic shelter
Riverfront Trail access
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the River Road park entrance for the riverfront area. The overlook above it is reached separately from Burnt Boat Drive.
The lower park and Chief Looking’s Village overlook use different entrances. Check the park map for your chosen stop and current park work. The former Keelboat Park is not listed as an unchanged attraction.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Walk or bike the paved riverfront route linking parks, public art and historic places.
Often called the Riverfront Trail, this shared-use route follows the Missouri River through Bismarck’s river parks. Connections cross into Mandan and continue toward Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Choose a short out-and-back from Pioneer Park or Sertoma, or consult the official trail map to plan a longer ride.
Paved shared-use trail
Connections between river parks
Public art and historic stops
Links into Mandan
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Park at Pioneer Park on River Road for this listed access point. Sertoma Park provides another convenient starting place farther south.
The map pin and directions use Pioneer Park as one access point, not the whole trail. Choose a route on the official map, allow for crossings and share the trail with other users.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Explore unpaved bike and walking trails or join the Hay Creek paved-trail connection.
Sleepy Hollow combines a wooded trail setting with outdoor performance spaces. The paved connection is part of the Hay Creek Trail, and unpaved routes offer another way to explore the park. Summer theater is run by a separate organization, so an ordinary park visit and a scheduled performance require different planning.
Unpaved biking and hiking
Paved Hay Creek Trail connection
Picnic shelter
Outdoor stage and gazebo
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the East Divide Avenue parking area at the published park address. Check the park map for the trails and performance area.
Check trail conditions after wet weather. Stage and gazebo reservations and performances are managed separately from the park district. A park visit does not include admission to a performance.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Take a quiet interpretive walk through a natural wooded area near south Bismarck.
Atkinson Nature Park offers a different pace from the riverfront picnic parks. Its unpaved interpretive loop winds through a natural wooded area, with panels to help visitors learn about the landscape. The park has a parking lot and a portable restroom; winter skiing depends on suitable conditions.
1.65-mile interpretive loop
Wooded nature setting
Hiking and horse-riding route
Seasonal cross-country skiing
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the published Riverwood Drive address and the nature-park parking area, near the horse-arena area.
The interpretive loop is for hiking and horse riding only, and dogs are not allowed. Do not assume it is a mountain-bike or dog-walking trail. Open hours are sunrise to sunset.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Follow riverside trails through cottonwood woodland and look for birds along the Missouri.
This Morton County natural area preserves river-bottom woodland near northeast Mandan. More than four miles of trails offer an outdoor alternative to manicured city parks, with river access and wildlife-watching opportunities. The trailhead also serves an area locally known as the Car Bodies.
More than four miles of trails
Cottonwood and riparian woodland
Public river fishing access
Bird and wildlife watching
Good to know before you go
Getting there: From I-94 Exit 153 in Mandan, follow the local route toward River Drive Northeast near Division Street and Missouri Drive. The county publishes 1472 River Drive Northeast for the trailhead.
The county lists no camping and no campfires. Conditions change with weather and river levels; use established access points and check current notices before visiting.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Plan a lake outing with fishing piers, trails, playgrounds and seasonal paddling rentals.
McDowell Dam combines water recreation with easy land-based activities east of Bismarck. Visitors can use a paved loop or a longer unpaved trail, picnic near the playgrounds, or use the fishing piers and launch areas. The beach and rental operation make it especially useful for a planned summer outing.
Fishing piers and accessible kayak launch
0.6-mile paved loop
2.4-mile unpaved loop
Playgrounds and picnic shelters
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the park’s published address on 93rd Street Northeast east of Bismarck. Follow recreation-area signs to the parking and lake access.
Combustion motors are not allowed; electric motors are permitted. Live baitfish cannot be used or possessed. Ice fishing is catch-and-release only. Rentals are seasonal and weather dependent; confirm current fishing regulations and facility availability.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Explore a lake north of Mandan with fishing, paddling, a sandy beach and biking trails.
Harmon Lake brings together a campground, a public boat ramp, a kayak dock and a fishing pier. Its trail system adds a longer walking or mountain-bike option around the lake landscape. Families can combine water time with playgrounds and a picnic, while campers have both electrical and primitive-site options.
Boat ramp and kayak dock
Floating fishing pier
Mountain biking and hiking trails
Camping, beach and playgrounds
Good to know before you go
Getting there: The county places Harmon Lake about eight miles north of Mandan near Highway 1806 and County Road 140. Follow signs to Harmon Lake Road.
Check current camping fees, site arrangements and seasonal services with Morton County. Water recreation and trail conditions depend on weather; the listing does not guarantee suitable swimming or ice conditions.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Make a day trip for Missouri River woodland, prairie trails and a quieter state-park stay.
Cross Ranch follows a largely undeveloped stretch of the Missouri River. Its trails pass through river-bottom forest and connect with the adjoining nature preserve. Camping, cabins and yurts provide overnight options, while the visitor center helps visitors choose a route suited to the season and their available time.
River-bottom woodland and prairie
More than 16 miles of trails
Camping, cabin and yurt options
Seasonal winter trail recreation
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the state park’s published River Road address near Center. Consult the official park map for the main visitor center and individual campground entrances.
Park admission and overnight stays have separate fees. Some routes are hiking-only or have steep stairs; water fluctuations can affect access. Bison occur on a designated preserve trail, so check the route with staff and respect posted wildlife guidance.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Camp near Bismarck or enjoy day-use trails, playgrounds and an 18-hole disc golf course.
General Sibley offers a campground and a separate day-use area at the south end of Washington Street. The day-use park combines interpretive paths, play areas and disc golf, making it useful even without an overnight stay. RV and tent camping arrangements should be checked through the park’s own information and reservation pages.
RV and tent camping
18-hole disc golf course
Paved interpretive and unpaved nature trails
Playgrounds and picnic shelters
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Follow South Washington Street to the signed park entrance. Confirm gate and construction access before bringing a vehicle, trailer or boat.
Camping and vehicle-gate access are seasonal. The official page reports day-use road and boat-ramp improvements underway in fall 2026; check current access before visiting. Off-season day-use access differs from an open campground.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Bring the family to an inclusive playground with sensory activities and accessible play surfaces.
Mandan’s Universal Playground was designed to support children with a range of physical, sensory and communication abilities. A poured rubber surface, varied swings and sensory elements give visitors several ways to play. The nearby multipurpose building has separate rental arrangements, so choose whether you are planning a simple playground visit or an organized gathering.
Inclusive play equipment
Rubberized accessible surface
Sensory wall and quiet dome
Accessible bathrooms and multipurpose area
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the playground address on 15th Street Northeast in Mandan and follow the park entrance signs.
Ask the park district about building rentals, current amenities or specific access needs. Accessibility features are published by the operator, but families should check which equipment suits their needs.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Play a nine-hole disc golf course and combine the round with a visit to Lions Park.
The park district’s nine-hole Lions Park course occupies the eastern side of the park. It is a compact alternative to the longer General Sibley course, with other park activities nearby. The district points players toward the parking lot east of Hillside Aquatic Complex for convenient course access.
Nine-hole disc golf course
East-side park access
Nearby playgrounds and paved park trail
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use 1601 East Boulevard Avenue. The official course page identifies the lot east of Hillside Aquatic Complex as the closest parking.
Bring your discs and follow the posted course layout. This listing uses the park’s general map point; directions use its published address. Pool access and other park facilities have their own seasonal schedules.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Try a beginner-friendly nine-hole disc golf course on relatively flat ground in south Mandan.
Nicola’s Park opened its disc golf course in 2024 using baskets from the Sunset Park remodel and donated additions. The park district describes it as a beginner-friendly layout on a small, relatively flat parcel. It offers a straightforward place to practice or introduce a friend to disc golf.
Nine-hole layout
Beginner-friendly course
Relatively flat park setting
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the published 14th Street Southeast address in south Mandan, just off Highway 1806.
Bring your discs and use the current course layout and posted rules. The official listing is for Nicola’s Park; it should not be confused with the older Sunset Park layout.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Book a round on a public 18-hole course with tree-lined fairways near the Missouri River.
Riverwood is a par-72 public course on the Missouri River floodplain. Wide fairways, mature trees and wildlife give the round a parkland setting. Its driving range and practice greens offer shorter practice visits, while the clubhouse provides rental equipment and course services.
18-hole, par-72 course
Driving range and practice greens
Rental clubs and carts
Public tee-time booking
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the Riverwood Drive clubhouse address and the golf-course parking area. Follow course instructions for check-in and practice-area access.
Reserve a tee time and check current green fees, rentals and weather restrictions. Winter recreation is offered separately when conditions allow; do not assume the golf course is open during snow season.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
Play a shorter public 18-hole course with mature trees and views in central Bismarck.
Tom O’Leary is a par-69 course with several tee options and a central Bismarck setting. Practice greens and an outdoor practice area make it useful for working on individual skills as well as playing a full round. The pro shop offers club and cart rentals for visitors who need equipment.
18-hole, par-69 course
Putting and chipping greens
Practice area
Rental clubs and carts
Good to know before you go
Getting there: Use the clubhouse address on North Washington Street and check in with the course before starting a round.
Book a tee time and check the current fees and seasonal opening status. The operator says the outdoor practice area can be used free with your own golf balls; this does not imply that a full round is free.
Checked 2026-10-09. Source. Fees, seasons and conditions change, so confirm before you head out.
