Highest-rated free things to do in North Dakota by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in North Dakota.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in North Dakota using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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Tripadvisor

1 / 29

#29. Japanese Gardens

- Rating: 3.6/5 (61 reviews)
- City: Grand Forks North
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2 / 29

#28. Dakota Square Mall

- Rating: 3.8/5 (70 reviews)
- City: Minot North
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3 / 29

#27. Little Missouri National Grassland

- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- City: Watford City North
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4 / 29

#26. Harold Schafer Heritage Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- City: Medora North
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5 / 29

#25. Kirkwood Mall

- Rating: 4.2/5 (26 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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6 / 29

#24. McDowell Dam Nature Park

- Rating: 4.3/5 (40 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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7 / 29

#23. Maah Daah Hey Trail

- Rating: 4.4/5 (30 reviews)
- City: Medora North
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8 / 29

#22. Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site

- Rating: 4.1/5 (44 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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9 / 29

#21. Flood Memorial Monument

- Rating: 4.3/5 (82 reviews)
- City: Grand Forks North
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10 / 29

#20. North Dakota State University

- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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11 / 29

#19. Knife River Indian Villages Historic Site

- Rating: 4.4/5 (99 reviews)
- City: North
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12 / 29

#18. Assumption Abbey

- Rating: 4.9/5 (36 reviews)
- City: Richardton North
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13 / 29

#17. Lindenwood Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (47 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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14 / 29

#16. University of North Dakota

- Rating: 4.7/5 (97 reviews)
- City: Grand Forks North
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15 / 29

#15. Roger Maris Museum

- Rating: 4.1/5 (177 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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16 / 29

#14. Frontier Village

- Rating: 4.1/5 (240 reviews)
- City: Jamestown North
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17 / 29

#13. Salem Sue - World's Largest Fiberglass Cow

- Rating: 4.3/5 (111 reviews)
- City: New Salem North
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18 / 29

#12. West Acres Shopping Center

- Rating: 4.3/5 (124 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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19 / 29

#11. Missouri River

- Rating: 4.4/5 (145 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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20 / 29

#10. Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

- Rating: 4.6/5 (115 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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21 / 29

#9. Fort Union Trading Post

- Rating: 4.4/5 (166 reviews)
- City: Williston North
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22 / 29

#8. North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (660 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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23 / 29

#7. Drekker Brewing Company

- Rating: 4.6/5 (98 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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24 / 29

#6. North Dakota State Capitol Building

- Rating: 4.3/5 (323 reviews)
- City: Bismarck North
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25 / 29

#5. Red River Market

- Rating: 4.9/5 (146 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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26 / 29

#4. Scandinavian Heritage Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (378 reviews)
- City: Minot North
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27 / 29

#3. Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (464 reviews)
- City: Fargo North
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28 / 29

#2. Enchanted Highway

- Rating: 4.6/5 (314 reviews)
- City: Regent North
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29 / 29

#1. Painted Canyon Overlook

- Rating: 4.7/5 (279 reviews)
- City: Theodore Roosevelt National Park North
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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