The MSP Airport is a great place to fly into if you’re looking for a nice road trip through the Minnesota and North Dakota area. Start in the Twin Cities and hit the big stops like the Como Park, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and then hit the road on your way up to Fargo (with stops along the way of course).

Check out the tourist websites for more information on what to do in Minneapolis or St. Paul.

Fargo/Moorhead

A little bit North Dakota (Fargo), a little bit Minnesota (Moorhead), and a whole lot of good times! With 60+ hotels, 450+ restaurants, and endless things to do, a night in Fargo is a must in this itinerary (although, we may be biased).

Start your visit in Fargo at the Visitors Center where you can get information on all of the fun things to do as well as take a photo with the infamous Woodchipper prop from the movie Fargo. Then head to the Downtown Fargo area where great restaurants, public art, and local shops line Broadway. This is also where the nightlife comes alive.

Some can’t-miss attractions include Bonanzaville, the Hjemkomst Center, the Fargo Air Museum, the Red River Zoo, and the Historic Fargo Theatre.

Jamestown

Take the scenic route and you’ll run into Jamestown about an hour down the road, this is a fun, quick stop for a photo with the World’s Largest Buffalo and a tour through the National Buffalo Museum.

For more information on what to do in Jamestown, check out Discover Jamestown’s website.

Bismarck

North Dakota’s capital city has no shortage of history. Start your visit here with a trip to the North Dakota Heritage Center (a free museum!) and wander through the galleries to get a better understanding of the history of North Dakota. Right next door, the capitol building stands as the tallest building in North Dakota, they offer tours every hour on the hour (this is suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19).

Bismarck has much more to offer, check out on their website.

Medora

Finally, after traveling through the remainder of North Dakota with stops at Salem Sue (the world’s largest Holstein Cow) and maybe a trip down the Enchanted Highway, you’ve made it to Medora, ND!

Medora is one of North Dakota’s biggest tourist attractions with the beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park within North Dakota’s Badlands (ND’s only National Park), the Medora Musical, and Bully Pulpit golf course. Medora is a great place to stay with a few options for campgrounds as well as hotels.

Check out Medora.com for some more options for things to do in this country-western town

Deadwood

This old west town started during the gold rush of 1876. Deadwood has historic tours departing from Main Street every hour in the summer months to tell the history and stories of characters such as Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and more.

Rapid City

Travel an hour south to Badlands Loop Road and take the byway through Badlands National Park. This 244,000 wilderness area offers spires, pinnacles, and wide views. Stop at a few of the scenic overlooks.

From there, you can tour the Custer State Park and watch for bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, elk, and tons of other wildlife within the preserve.

Find one of the many hotels or campgrounds in Rapid City to spend the night.

Mount Rushmore

In the morning, tour the Mount Rushmore National Memorial with the visitors center, amphitheater, and presidential walking trails. On the way out of the state, Crazy Horse Memorial is the largest mountain carving taking place in the world at this time. Visit the Indian Museum of North America, the sculptor's home, the gift shop, and more.

On the way into Colorado, take a quick stop in Cheyenne, WY for some more old-west fun.

Denver

Continue south into Denver, CO this mile-high-city has unlimited outdoor activities from the mountains to the city parks. The iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and great nightlife in Downtown Denver.