Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Mandan, ND
A reconstructed cavalry post, including Custer’s house, next to the earth lodges of a Mandan village above the Missouri River.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is a history park on the west bank of the Missouri River in North Dakota, about 7 miles (roughly 11 km) south of Mandan and about 13 miles (21 km) from Bismarck. The Missouri and the Heart River meet here. Lonely Planet calls it a rural site with extensive hiking trails; according to the park administration it is North Dakota's oldest state park (established 1907).
The military fort was built in 1872 as Fort McKeen and later renamed Fort Abraham Lincoln. From 1873, Lt. Col. George A. Custer lived here with his wife Libbie; the 7th Cavalry rode out to war against the Sioux in 1876, and Custer died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The reconstructed Custer House offers living-history tours of about 30 minutes set in 1875; the park says they run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The blockhouses were rebuilt in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
On-A-Slant Village is older: the Mandan settled here from the late 16th century until a smallpox epidemic around 1781 drove out the survivors. Several reconstructed earth lodges stand in the park today. Check tours and hours in advance.
- Nearest town
- Mandan, ND
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 46.7654, -100.8456
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
- General Sibley City ParkCampsite3 mi from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park · 109 pitches
- Bismarck KOA JourneyMotorhome stopover8 mi from Fort Abraham Lincoln State ParkMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Harmon Lake CampgroundMotorhome stopover14 mi from Fort Abraham Lincoln State ParkMotorhomes
- Hazelton Recreation AreaCampsite22 mi from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
All campsites in North Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park?
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is in Mandan, ND, at GPS 46.7654, -100.8456. It is about 4 mi from Bismarck.
Can you camp near Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 5 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park?
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: North Dakota badlands and the Enchanted Highway and Earth lodges, forts and a reservoir like an inland sea: by camper along the Missouri through North Dakota.
What is there to see near Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: North Dakota State Capitol (5 mi), Salem Sue, the World's Largest Holstein Cow (27 mi), Fort Mandan (39 mi) and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (47 mi).
When is the best time to visit Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)