Bismarck, North Dakota is located in the middle of the state, right on Interstate 94. Whether you’re just passing through or have some extended time in the area, here are the best things to do in Bismarck North Dakota! Plus, some great food and drink options 😊
Things to do in Bismarck North Dakota
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
I love a good museum, and North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum has it all. We walked through exhibits on North Dakota fashion, native history, and even saw Dinosaur and Wooly Mammoth fossils that were found right in the state! Highly recommend starting your North Dakota trip here to learn about its history, like how it was all underwater millions of years ago – with giant turtle fossils to prove it! Admission is free, and make sure to check out the café and gift shop too.
Laughing Sun Brewing Co
Trying local beer is a must when traveling, and we heard so many good things about Laughing Sun Brewing Co.! The beer, atmosphere, and food are all great. We loved the BBQ and learning about the history of the building it’s in. They also have axe throwing, so we want to come back for that!
Cross Ranch State Park
Cross Ranch State Park is located about 45 minutes north of Bismarck and offers nice, easy trails right along the Missouri River. We took the Matah “River” Trail and enjoyed the fall colors and river views. We especially loved stumbling upon a native tent that you are able to camp in while staying at the park! So unique.
Related post: Things to do in Jamestown North Dakota
FireFlour Pizza
For the best pizza in Bismarck, check out FireFlour Pizza. It’s made in an oven from Naples, Italy and they offer local brews as well! The staff was incredibly friendly and we loved the atmosphere. Definitely a must-do, just check out that pizza!
Terra Nomad
Terra Nomad is such a cute spot! Located right downtown Bismarck, it has great coffee, breakfast, and ambiance. I’m a sucker for a good logo and clean design – it felt like home! We loved their smoothie bowls and iced latte.
Dakota Zoo
Dakota Zoo might be the best zoo we’ve ever visited. We visited on a Friday morning, so it wasn’t very busy, and were able to get up close to so many of the animals! You can see lots of animals local to North Dakota, farm animals, and exotic animals as well. We loved the new penguin exhibit where they ran around and splashed in the pool!
Papa’s Pumpkin Patch
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Bismarck, North Dakota, in the fall, make sure to stop by Papa’s Pumpkin Patch! It’s named one of the best pumpkin patches in the US by Travel Channel, and for good reason. It’s a great spot to visit with kids, with giant swings, hay mazes, corn pits, hundreds of games, and TONS of pumpkins for photo ops! A great way to spend a fall day!
The Paddle Trap
If you want to admire the Missouri River without hiking, take in the view at The Paddle Trap! This restaurant is super cute and located right on the water. Great for a meal or if you just want to grab a drink. We even ordered some walleye cheeks here, which we’ve never seen on a menu before but are our favorite to make at home!
Stonehome Brewing Company
Stonehome Brewing Company has great beer and food. They are known for their pizza and even give kids a little ball of pizza dough to play with while they wait for their food. So cool! Try to sit outside by their pool and fountain if you can!
Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews
For crazy burger combos and a fun atmosphere, check out Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews. I tried the Philly burger, and it was awesome! We also loved the dry rub wings.
Kroll’s Diner
Kroll’s Diner is a North Dakota classic. Visit in the morning for home-cooked breakfast classics as well as the knoephla! I tried the Breakfast Fleischkuechle which is a breakfast take on a German classic, and so yummy! There’s a few locations in the Bismarck areas so you can’t miss it.
Hope you enjoyed our favorite things to do in Bismarck North Dakota! It is such an under-rated city in the US with so much to offer.
