10 North Dakota Summer Experiences

Don't let the summer pass you by. Take your summer on a legendary adventure and enjoy some extraordinary experiences along the way. See some new sites, break some records or just go the extra mile to make this summer super. We invite you to become legendary in North Dakota!

1. Tee it up
With more than 100 nine- and 18-hole golf courses, North Dakota is a golfer's paradise. To top it off, our courses are uncluttered, inexpensive and beautiful. This summer challenge yourself to your best game and play all the courses you can. For more on golfing, click here.

2. Hold down the fort
Forts used to be a place of safety and rest on the prairies. Now they are reminders of life here at the beginning of the 19th century. How many forts have you visited them all? This summer, delve into North Dakota's rich military history by visiting a fort (or several).

3. Back to the earth
Who needs a camper? Instead, try roughing it in comfort in a yurt at one of North Dakota's State Parks.

4. Cruisin'
Roll down the windows, turn the radio up and drive! Hitting the roads can be about slowing down instead of speeding up, especially when you take time to appreciate the scenery. Amble down one of North Dakota's scenic byways or backways. Can you name them all? Better yet, drive them all.

5. Go for the whopper
North Dakota's record walleye was caught in March 2021 on the Missouri River, weighing in at 16.39 pounds. It broke a 50-year-old mark. Can you break it again? Find out all you need to know to make an attempt. If you don't break it, you will still have fun trying.

6. Celebrate Christmas cowboy style
Mid-summer is known as Cowboy Christmas because of the large number of rodeos in North Dakota and nationwide. Participants can win a lot of money in a short period of time – as little as four to eight seconds. With a plethora of rodeos to choose from this summer, how many can you attend? Throw on some boots, grab your cowboy hat and get ready for a boot-scootin' good time.

7. Get in touch with your wild side
North Dakota is home to 65 wildlife refuges – more than any other state. All offer unparalleled opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife in their natural setting. How many wildlife refuges can you visit this summer and how many different wildlife species can you find? 

8. Adventure "on the house"
Adventure in North Dakota doesn't cost a lot. In fact, some of it doesn't cost a penny. How many free events, attractions or things to do can you cram into a weekend?

9. Put some fest into your summer
North Dakota hosts a myriad of cultural and heritage events from Scandinavian festivals and Native American powwows to reenactments and festivals celebrating music or native prairie fruit. Whether you prefer to celebrate your heritage or your love of music and food, you can experience countless festivals this summer. So, grab a friend and join in the festivities. 

10. Break the ‘Hey
The Maah Daah Hey Trail's 144 miles of single track pathway crosses soaring buttes, rolling grasslands and challenging downhills nestled in the stunning North Dakota Badlands. Make it your dream to break the Maah Daah Hey's record mountain biking time of 17 hours. Are you up for the challenge?

These are just a handful of experiences in North Dakota this summer. Follow your curiosity, not the crowd.