Travel
Things To Do in North Dakota: Dickinson
| February 23, 2024 | 4 Minute Read
There’s so much to see and do in Dickinson, located on the state’s rugged western edge.
DO & SEE
Visit the museums.
The Badlands Dinosaur Museum (above) is packed with thousands of fossils, minerals, rocks and gems from around the world. See a complete triceratops skull found near Dickinson, touch petrified wood and bone casts and create your own topographic landscape.
It’s part of the Dickinson Museum Center. The 12-acre campus also showcases local history at the Joachim Regional History Museum and Prairie Outpost Park.
Walk and drive through history.
Discover history and architecture on the Dickinson Walking Tour. Then hop in the car to explore the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway, which ends (or begins!) in Dickinson. Find the Talking Trail signs in each community and call 701-566-5566 plus the extension number on the sign to learn more about where you are.
Trace five military expeditions on the Custer Trail Auto Tour in nearby Medora, an 80-mile route that extends into the Badlands. Or cruise the 32-mile Enchanted Highway (above), where oversized scrap metal sculptures rise up from the prairie. It begins on I-94 exit 72 near Gladstone.
Get outside.
Go hiking, mountain biking, camping or horseback riding in the Little Missouri National Grassland, a one-hour drive from Dickinson. It’s the largest in the country with over a million serene acres of prairie to explore.
Try birdwatching in one of 11 Wildlife Management Areas near the city. Peak migration usually occurs in early May.
EAT & STAY
Indulge at Brickhouse Grille.
Savor a special dinner at this atmospheric AAA Three Diamond downtown spot (above). From a seared ahi tuna appetizer to creme brulee and after-dinner cocktails, each dish is artfully arranged.
The menu is fresh but never fussy. Look for hand-cut aged Angus beef, duck confit, seasonal wild game and seafood (including shrimp, lobster, mussels and clams) that’s delivered daily.
Take a coffee tour.
The Coffee Cruise is a driving route that features great java joints in and around Dickinson. Stop by Poppy’s Coffee Shop for a cold brew, refreshing boba tea, lemonade and Italian sodas.
Hungry? Market Press Coffee Co. offers wraps, soups, smoothie bowls and made-from-scratch scones, caramel rolls and other treats. Pair them with a matcha tea latte or house-roasted coffee.
Relax at TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
There’s plenty of room to spread out in these studio, one- or two-bedroom suites (above). All floor plans include pull-out sofas, cooktops, microwaves and full-size refrigerators. Complimentary breakfast is also provided.
Suites feature warm wood and bright furniture for a contemporary look. Separate living and sleeping spaces let guests work, cook, watch a movie and rest simultaneously.