# North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands

> 3-day road trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 7 stops, from Fargo to Medora. About 7 h 19 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b19-north-dakota-i94/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 7 stops, from Fargo to Medora. About 7 h 19 min of driving in total. Cross North Dakota from the Red River to the badlands, via the world’s largest buffalo, the capitol in Bismarck and the earth lodge villages of the Knife River.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 660 km (410 mi) |
| Driving | 7 h 19 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Fargo → Medora |
| States | ND |
| Updated | May 9, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Fargo west on I-94, which crosses the flat bed of former glacial Lake Agassiz before rolling into farmland. At Valley City, about an hour out, you can detour to see the Hi-Line railroad bridge, one of the longest and highest in the country. Jamestown, 150 km from Fargo, is the home of the National Buffalo Museum and the big concrete buffalo above the highway.

Continue west on I-94 to Bismarck, the state capital, on the Missouri River. The capitol tower has an observation deck, and the North Dakota Heritage Center next door covers everything from dinosaurs to the Mandan and Hidatsa people. For history, cross the river to Mandan and visit Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, where Custer’s house and an earth lodge village have been rebuilt.

For the Knife River Indian Villages, drive about 100 km north of Bismarck on US-83 and ND-200A to Stanton. Here you can see the remains of Hidatsa villages and walk into a reconstructed earth lodge. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the reconstructed Fort Mandan near Washburn are on the way and make a good combined stop.

From Stanton, take ND-200 west and ND-49 south back to I-94, then continue west to Medora, the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Fuel is available in most towns along I-94. Winter can bring blizzards and road closures, so this is best from May to October. Medora has a summer musical and is the start of the scenic drive into the park’s South Unit.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Fargo** (ND)
2. **Jamestown** (ND)
3. **National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo** (Jamestown, ND): A 7.9 m concrete buffalo from 1959 overlooks I-94, next to a museum on the bison and a small live herd, sometimes including a white bison. Frontier Village beside it is free.
4. **Bismarck** (ND)
5. **North Dakota State Capitol** (Bismarck, ND): An Art Deco tower of 19 floors from 1934, the tallest building in the state, with an observation deck on the 18th floor. The Heritage Center museum next door is free and worth an hour.
6. **Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site** (Stanton, ND): Circular depressions of earth lodges from Hidatsa villages on the Knife River, where Lewis and Clark met Sakakawea. A reconstructed earth lodge stands by the visitor center; trails lead to the village sites.
7. **Medora** (ND)

## FAQs

**How long is North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands?**
3-day road trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 7 stops, from Fargo to Medora. About 7 h 19 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands?**
We suggest 3 days: about 7 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands start and end?**
It starts in Fargo and ends in Medora.

**Which states does North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands pass through?**
North Dakota.