Summer in North Dakota gives us a pretty good excuse to dust off our bucket list and make plans for the sunny season. Knowing that the cold, snowy winter is right around the corner, we want to pack as much fun as we can into those fleeting warm-weather days. If you're not sure where to start, take a peek at some of the best things to do in North Dakota in summer.
Best Summer Vacation Destinations In North Dakota
Summer in North Dakota promises an idyllic backdrop for a vacation. The hard part is deciding where to go. Whether you're looking for the best family things to do in North Dakota in summer or feel like a romantic getaway, you'll find just the right destination. Here are a few summer vacation destinations in North Dakota to add to your must-visit list.
1. Hankinson Hills
Location: Hankinson
Popularity: Very quiet
Need To Know: Campsites are first come first serve.
If you want to get away from it all and reconnect with nature, you probably won't find a better way or place to do that than by camping at
Hankinson Hills Campground. This remote North Dakota campground offers just 15 campsites, making it easy to find solitude on the prairie. All of the campsites have a fire ring and a picnic table, and campers have access to drinking water and vault toilets during the summer. Camping at Hankinson Hills stands atop the list of the best cheap things to do in North Dakota in summer. The camping fee, as of 2024, is only $10 a night.
2. Hatton
Location: Hatton
Popularity: Popular
Need To Know: Hatton sits 24 miles west of I-29.
The darling town of Hatton is the perfect summertime destination, whether you're heading out on a day trip or a weekend getaway. Perhaps the town's most popular destination, Golden Lake Acres, undeniably one of the best family things to do in North Dakota in summer, is a seasonal camping resort that beckons outdoor lovers and those looking to get away from it all. It has everything you need - a beach and boat launch, a playground, and live entertainment - for an unforgettable summer getaway. It's also pet-friendly.
3. Grahams Island State Park
Location: Devils Lake
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: Cabins and traditional campsites are available.
Even if you don't have time for a vacation, you can pack a whole lot of fun into a single day at Grahams Island State Park. The 959-acre state park is brimming with amenities, from scenic hiking trails and playgrounds to picnic areas and horseshoe courts. Spend the day boating, sunbathing on the beach, and cooling off in the lake. If you have the time, book a campsite or a cabin for a few nights then spend the evening stargazing, after catching a sensational North Dakota sunset behind Devils Lake.
Best Beaches, Lakes & Rivers To Visit In North
Dakota This Summer
A sun-soaked summer day is perhaps best spent wading in a cool lake, sunbathing on a sandy beach, and exploring on a kayak. These classic North Dakota summer activities are easy to find if you know where to look. Got your bucket list out? Add these picture-perfect summer destinations to it.
4. Lake Sakakawea State Park
Location: Pick City
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The state park has two seasonal camping cabins.
Summer is synonymous with soaking up the sun on sandy beaches, and that's just what you can do at Lake Sakakawea State Park. Relax on the shore before venturing into the water to cool off, but that's only the start of the fun that awaits. The park is chock full of amenities, including a playground, picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and a boat ramp. The lake is also popular for fishing and boating. If a day simply isn't enough, and you'll probably find it's not, book one of the seasonal cabins or pitch a tent near the water. You'll find some of the most fun things to do in North Dakota in summer at this state park.
5. Lake Upsilon
Location: North Rolette
Popularity: Popular but quiet
Need To Know: If you want to spend more than a day here, reserve a campsite at Lion Park at Lake Upsilon.
Considered by many one of the best-kept secrets in North Dakota,
Lake Upsilon is perhaps such a hidden gem because of its remoteness. If you really want to get away from it all, you'll find it with a day at the lake. The pristine lake is popular for swimming and boating. You might even want to catch lunch or dinner; the lake is stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Whether you spend your time in or on the water, wait until the sun sets to call it a day. (The sunsets here are glorious.)
6. Sheyenne River
Location: Fort Ransom State Park
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The state park has a campground, making it easy to stay for a few nights to enjoy all of its amenities.
Stretching more than 600 miles in North Dakota, the Sheyenne River promises plenty to do on a summer day. Winding through Fort Ransom State Park, the river is flanked by forest. Explore on a boat, where you can watch the scenery go by, or cast a line to catch lunch or dinner. When you're not on the water, follow one of the three scenic hiking trails.
Parks To Visit In North Dakota This Summer
Remember how much fun summer was as a kid? We packed so much into every day, dreading our inevitable return to school. Relive a little of that childhood magic this summer with a visit to one (or all!) of these parks in North Dakota.
7. Super Slide Amusement Park
Location: Bismarck
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The park is open seasonally, from May through the middle of September.
Treat yourself to some good, old-fashioned fun at Super Slide Amusement Park, a family favorite for more than five decades. The old-school amusement park boasts a variety of classic rides, including a roller coaster and tea cups. Get your game on with Water Wars; shoot a few rounds of mini golf, and hone your swing at the batting cage. Stop by the snack shop, too, for a soft pretzel or an ice cream cone.
8. Raging Rivers Waterpark
Location: Grafton
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: Day and season passes are available.
Venture out of the A/C and beat the heat with a day in the water at Raging Rivers Waterpark. Zip down slides into a pool of crystal-clear water; float on the lazy river, and sunbathe on the lush grass. The popular North Dakota waterpark also has a concession stand. Treat yourself to such summer favorites as burgers, hot dogs, fries, hot pretzels, and ice cream. Don't worry if you don't plan to get in the water; you can purchase a spectator pass for half the price of a day pass.
9. Beaver Lake State Park
Location: Wishek
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The state park has three seasonal cabins, modern campsites, and primitive campsites.
Make some room on your summer itinerary for a day (or overnight) at Beaver Lake State Park. Home to a swimming beach, the 273-acre state park boasts a full menu of amenities, including showers, picnic shelters, a boat ramp, and hiking trails. More than five miles of trails meander through the park and are popular with both hikers and mountain bikers. The shortest trail, Beaver Lake Nature Trail, tallies just .32 of a mile and will take you past woodlands, the lake, and a prairie.
Best Free Summer Activities
While summer usually goes by much faster than most of us would like, it can also be quite a pricey season, especially if we have kids. Enjoy a memorable summer without busting your budget by checking out some of the best free things to do in North Dakota in summer. Here are three to help you get started.
10. Smell The Wildflowers At The Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Coleharbor
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It's closed on federal holidays.
Slip on comfy shoes to explore along one of the trails at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, where you can stop to smell the colorful wildflowers during the warmer months. If you prefer staying in the cool comfort of your car, follow the eight-mile South Shore Auto Tour Route. Bring your camera along because, whether you hike or drive, you'll pass an abundance of natural beauty - prairies, Lake Audubon, wetlands, and local wildlife. Twelve miles of the North Country Trail, which runs from North Dakota to Vermont, wanders through the refuge too.
11. Cool Off In A Swimming Hole
Location: Elgin
Popularity: Popular
Need To Know: Camping sites are available for a fee.
Channel a little of that childhood magic with a day at Lake Tschida, a man-made swimming hole that's perfect for cooling off on a sweltering summer day. Measuring 3,400 acres, the pristine lake is a prime destination for summer fun. If you tire of swimming, explore the lake by boat or go fishing. Bring a picnic along, too.
12. Spend The Day At Spring Lake Park
Location: Williston
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The family-friendly park is open year-round, so make a point to visit each season.
Bring the whole family for a day of fun at Spring Lake Park. The popular North Dakota park features something for everyone, from a dog park and a walking path to volleyball courts and a swimming beach. The gem of the park is the 41-acre lake that's popular for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Best Summer Events And Festivals In North Dakota
So much makes summertime in North Dakota special. Those balmy summer days also mean a visit to one of our favorite festivals, where we can enjoy some old-fashioned fun and the season's tastiest treats. Pull out your calendar, and add a few of the best summer festivals in North Dakota.
13. Red River Valley Fair
Location: West Fargo
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: Concert tickets are already on sale.
Celebrate summer at the Red River Valley Fair, one of the highlights of the season that features an old-fashioned carnival, delicious eats, and free and ticketed entertainment. The fair is set for June 28 through July 14, 2024. Those artists set to perform during the fair include the Goo Goo Dolls, Ludacris, Blake Shelton with O'Shea, and Breaking Benjamin.
14. Chokecherry Festival
Location: Williston
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: This annual festival is held at Davidson Park in Williston.
Mark your calendar for the annual Chokecherry Festival, slated for Aug. 9-10, 2024. The two-day festival celebrates the state fruit of North Dakota and promises a full menu of family-friendly fun, including live entertainment, activities for the kiddos, food vendors, and craft booths. You can even purchase chokecherry jam.
15. Enderlin Sunfest
Location: Enderlin
Popularity: Very popular
Need To Know: The festival's schedule of events and activities is usually published in early August.
Make the most of the final days of summer at Sunfest in Enderlin, set for Sept. 15-21, 2024. Previous editions of this late summer festival in North Dakota have included such family-friendly fun as a parade, food vendors, entertainment, pickleball, and a duck race.
What else would you add to this list of the best things to do in North Dakota in summer? Let us know in the comments. Summer is also the perfect time for a road trip in North Dakota. Before you hit the road, check out OIYS' road trip essentials packing list.
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