Quick Summary: North Dakota, gateway to the west with its open prairies and rolling hills, is home to the United States first National Mammal, the Bison. North Dakota may be small in terms of population, but it boasts some of the world’s most beautiful natural playgrounds like the 283-acre Beaver Lake State Park and Crow Flies High Scenic Overlook. North Dakota also pays homage to the country’s early settlers with the Fort Seward Covered Wagon Train. An annual week-long pilgrimage, complete with a chuck wagon and covered wagons. This sparsely populated state is full of interesting and fun things for kids of all ages to see and do.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Beaver Lake State Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Beaver Lake State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Tyler Olson/stock.adobe.com

2. Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© GCapture/stock.adobe.com

3. Bonanzaville Pioneer Village and Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
Bonanzaville Pioneer Village and Museum | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Kraft74/stock.adobe.com

4. Chahinkapa Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
Chahinkapa Zoo | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Chahinkapa Zoo

5. Cross Ranch State Park

Category: Activities
Cross Ranch State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Pavel/stock.adobe.com

6. Crow Flies High Scenic Overlook

Crow Flies High Scenic Overlook | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Iliya Mitskavets/stock.adobe.com

7. Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

Category: Activities
Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© pictureguy32/stock.adobe.com

8. Double Ditch Indian Village Historic Site

Category: Attractions
Double Ditch Indian Village Historic Site | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Double Ditch Indian Village Historic Site

9. Fargo Air Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
Fargo Air Museum | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Fargo Air Museum

10. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Category: Activities
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Nicki/stock.adobe.com

11. Fort Ransom State Park

Category: Activities
Fort Ransom State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Fort Ransom State Park

12. Fort Seward Covered Wagon Train

Category: Activities
Fort Seward Covered Wagon Train | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© greatandlittle/stock.adobe.com

13. Gateway to Science Center

Category: Kids & Family
Gateway to Science Center | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Gateway to Science Center

14. Icelandic State Park

Category: Activities
Icelandic State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Icelandic State Park

15. International Peace Garden

Category: Activities
International Peace Garden | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© International Peace Garden

16. Lake Sakakawea State Park

Category: Activities
Lake Sakakawea State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Ric Ergenbright Danita Delimont/stock.adobe.com

17. Lewis and Clark Riverboat

Category: Activities
Lewis and Clark Riverboat | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Mechislav/stock.adobe.com

18. National Buffalo Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
National Buffalo Museum | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© National Buffalo Museum

19. Red River Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
Red River Zoo | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Red River Zoo

20. Roosevelt Park Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
Roosevelt Park Zoo | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© scott/stock.adobe.com

21. The Dakota Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
The Dakota Zoo | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© Svetlana Sotnikova/stock.adobe.com

22. The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Category: Attractions
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

23. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Category: Activities
Theodore Roosevelt National Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© zakzeinert/stock.adobe.com

24. Turtle River State Park

Category: Activities
Turtle River State Park | Things to Do in North Dakota with Kids
© sergiy1975/stock.adobe.com

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