The Best Things To Do In McKenzie County, North Dakota
McKenzie County, North Dakota, is waiting for you to visit. If you are looking to check off all 50 states, I can show you the best things to do in McKenzie County, North Dakota. The area is bustling in the art and nature scene.
*This post is sponsored by McKenzie County, North Dakota. All opinions are mine and nobody else’s.
McKenzie County sits in the western part of the state, near the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The Best Things To Do In Watford City, North Dakota
North Dakota is a fantastic state for road trip enthusiasts, offering wide open spaces. If you’d prefer not to drive, I’d suggest renting a car at the Williston airport and let your adventure begin.
Table of Contents
Where is McKenzie County Located?
- Bismarck, North Dakota – 189 miles
- Medora, North Dakota – 89 miles
- Billings, Montana – 317 miles
- Rapid City, South Dakota – 291 miles
- Minneapolis, Minnesota – 614 miles
McKenzie County is the perfect location to base yourself in for a Western North Dakota vacation. Stay in McKenzie County for a location that places you in the heart of it all.
Stop In The Visitor Center
One of my favorite things to do in any place I visit is to swing into the visitor center. The Long X Visitor Center in Watford City is incredible. This visitor center will give you inspiration on the beauty of McKenzie County and the North Dakota Badlands.
You can grab souvenirs, ice cream, and locally made products to take home with you. If you are an avid reader, the books showcasing the area are great resources to take with you.
Where To Stay
Book your lodging at the Roosevelt Inn & Suites in Watford City. This locally owned hotel will quickly win you over. With an indoor pool and fitness center, and the best hotel breakfast I have found anywhere.
You will be pleased with your base camp. Your cozy room with views of the Badlands in the distance, make this property a win/win.
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Stroll the halls of this hotel and experience all things Theodore Roosevelt, America’s 26th President.
The photos and memorabilia will inspire you to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt, and all he did for America. It’s no secret that Theodore Roosevelt is a highlight of your visit to Western North Dakota.
North Unit Theodore Roosevelt National Park
A portion of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park sits in McKenzie County. The national park is a short 15-minute drive from Watford City. If you are lucky you will see the elusive long horned steers and bison. On our most recent visit, the bison were hiding.
We saw one bison parading alongside the roadway. On previous visits, we have seen dozens. As with all wildlife, you never know where they will be when you visit any national park. Smoke from Canadian wildfires had drifted south on our visit, adding to our experience while visiting the national park. Rain moved in shortly after we entered the park, making for different views as the rain came down.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park- Best For Families
One of the most scenic views in North Dakota is in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, River Bend Overlook.
Make the time to find a parking spot and explore this area, you can thank me later.
Tobacco Gardens Resort & Marina
Talk about a wow experience! Tobacco Gardens Resort & Marina is 25-miles north of Watford City, and a treasure that many people never visit. We met Peggy and her team in the on-site restaurant for a delicious lunch. Peggy’s passion shines through her food and her love of her property.
Camp, stay in a cabin, kayak, paddleboard, hike, and enjoy the scenery of the area. This area of McKenzie County is an outdoor lover’s paradise come true. We loved the water views, wide open spaces, and the quiet of the hills that surround this resort. A bonus is the incredible murals on the property.
On the day we visited, the weather was not cooperative, rainy and cool. We had the opportunity to ride a utility vehicle to the Lewis & Clark Overlook, and we jumped on it.
Lewis & Clark fans will love this area! A 3.2 mile loop trail is near here, a moderately challenging hike with views of Lake Sakakawea. Fun fact- You can see the area where it is said that Lewis & Clark had an “incident.”
Lewis was accidentally shot by Clark during a hunting trip in this region of North Dakota. The two are said to have been hunting, and Clark thought Lewis was an elk and shot him in the thigh.
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MHA Nation Interpretive Center
A 45-minute drive and a great day trip from Watford City will take you to the MHA Nation Interpretive Center in New Town, ND. This is an experience you will be talking about for years. MHA stands for Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.
This educational museum walks you through a the history and culture of the MHA Nation. Several permanent exhibits and history programs tell the story. As you stroll through the remarkable story of the MHA Nation, immerse yourself into the experience. Adrian was our tour guide and he did a remarkable job telling their story.
- Monday-Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm
- Saturday & Sunday closed
There is a small fee to visit. Plan to spend two hours here and you will find yourself in a whole new world. No photos are allowed in the musuem, which gives you reason to visit!
Grab a souvenir in the Oak Tree Gift Shop and a cup of coffee at the Mirishibisha Black Water Coffee Shop on site. Drive a little bit further down the road from the museum and step inside an earth lodge at Earth Lodge Village.
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I found the interpretive center and Earth Lodge Village fascinating and interesting, as I enjoy hearing the perspective of other cultures.
Sara’s Tip: View Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States, from different viewpoints as you meander through McKenzie County.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
There’s a new presidential library coming to Western North Dakota in July of 2026. Medora is home to his masterpiece. Make McKenzie County your base camp and take a day trip to this magical presidential library. Stroll over the rooftop and take in the North Dakota Grasslands. Fun fact: Several years before ground was broken for the presidential library, North Dakota prairie grasses were collected for seed for the new rooftop on the library.
Badlands of North Dakota
The Badlands of North Dakota offer incredible scenery that is unique to the area. McKenzie County offers the Badlands and Grasslands, making it a nature lover’s paradise.
The North Dakota Badlands name comes from the Lakota phrase “mako sica” meaning “bad land.” Stunning buttes, hoodoos, and spires showcase the often sandy-looking badlands. The Little Missouri Grasslands is the largest grassland in the United States, featuring colorful prairie grasses mixed with the topography of the Badlands.
Hiking and biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail in this wilderness area is a bucket list experience for many people.
No matter how you choose to spend your time in McKenzie County, you can be assured you will have an opportunity to slow down. Slow travel is becoming a favorite thing for me, and Western North Dakota is the ideal place to try it out.
SaraB
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