Bordering Canada to the north with Montana to the west, South Dakota to the south, and Minnesota to the east, North Dakota is surrounded by beauty and nature. It is also quite full of dogs, with an estimated 130,000 in residence, with the rest of the 780,000 residents. The top five dog breeds in the state include the Poodle, Bernedoodle, Siberian Husky, German Shepherd, and French Bulldog.
Being so far north, the state does not get very hot in the summer, with highs in the low to mid 80s. And the winters are below freezing. In fact, the average temperature in January is zero. This means that summers here are perfect for those who want to get away from the stifling heat of the more southern states.
You will not have to worry about crowds in North Dakota because it is the least-visited state in the country and one of the least-populated as well. But there are plenty of dog-friendly hotels, activities, and places to visit. We listed our top 15 picks for vacation destinations in North Dakota for pup parents.
Fargo
Located in southeastern North Dakota, Fargo is a large city with approximately 126,000 people and an estimated 21,000 fur babies. With so many dogs in town, you know there are plenty of pup popular activities and places to visit so it is an awesome place to have a weekend getaway.
You will not find many dog-friendly museums but Fargo Air Museum loves dogs so they are welcome as long as they are on a leash. You will see some incredible airplanes like the P-51 Mustang, C-47 Skytrain Duggy, and even the Wright Flyer from 1900.
Next, take your dog to North Fargo Dog Park so he can run away those zoomies. It has a small dog section, benches, and a dog shelter as well as lots of space. If it is raining or too cold to play outside, you can go to Rainy Days Indoor Dog Park. For just a small fee, your pooch can enjoy the indoor play area with toys and play equipment as well as the pool.
Bismarck
Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota and has 74,000 residents with 12,000 dogs. It is the perfect place for someone who is on a tight budget with eight dog-friendly hotels offering rooms under $100. In fact, Days Inn has rooms under $70 and they even have an indoor pool and fitness center. If you want to spend even less, go camping at General Sibley Park where it is only $14 a day and they have playgrounds, trails, and disc golf.
After checking in, take your pooch to Century Dog Park, which is absolutely free. They have four sections: one for small dogs, one for large dogs, one for agility training, and one for all dogs. For even more free fun, take your cuddly buddy to Missouri River State Natural Area. It is a great place for fishing but make sure you have a fishing license.
When you are ready to eat, take Fido to Burger Time. They have burgers and other sandwiches starting at $6.99.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
With over 70,000 acres in southwestern North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is dog-friendly for leashed dogs. It is impossible to explore all there is to see in one day. Camping in the park is the best way to be able to enjoy everything you want to do and be relaxed about it. There are two campgrounds. The Cottonwood Campground has 76 sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms. Juniper Campground has 50 sites with the same amenities.
Some of the best things to do in the park are hiking and wildlife viewing. The park has 19 trails, from easy strolls of less than a mile to strenuous and long hikes over 10 miles long. The Prairie Dog Town to Buckhorn Trail is about 1.5 miles and takes you to a place where you are almost guaranteed to see some prairie dogs. Keep your pup close so he does not scare them away.
If you are up for a long hike, try some of the Maah Daah Hey Trail. It is 144 miles long and has some of the best scenery in the state.
Bottineau
Looking for a place to take your pooch in the winter? If you have a snow dog, Bottineau Winter Park in Bottineau would be a great way to enjoy the white stuff. Located in the Turtle Mountains, you and your pooch can do some cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and sledding. Leave your pooch with a sitter and you can hit the slopes for some real alpine skiing.
There are several dog-friendly hotels and vacation rentals to choose from like the Cobblestone Inn & Suites, The Trail Inn, and the Four Seasons Inn. Also, Turtle Mountain Resort has numerous dog-friendly cabins from which you can pick. Just west of the park, Turtle Mountain State Forest lauds 18 miles of trails and several recreation areas to enjoy.
While you are in town, stop and see the Mystical Horizons site where they have a huge sundial, a sighting tube for nighttime viewing, and some incredible views of the Turtle Mountains. Your leashed pup can join you here.
Grand Forks
If you are bringing the family, consider staying at Canad Inns Destination Center because they have their own water park. Splashers of the South Seas is the largest indoor waterpark in the state and has some incredible water slides, activity pools, a kiddie pool, and a lazy river for relaxing. They also have a pizza and arcade restaurant where the kids can play games and eat while you relax. They even have the world’s largest Pac-Man game.
Your pooch will have to stay in the room while you play at the park but you can make up for it by taking him to a couple of the awesome dog parks in the area like Lincoln Dog Park at Lincoln Drive Park. It has a special small dog section, water fountains, and benches for pet parents.
Looking for something different to do? Everyone can have fun at The Greenway where they have 20 miles of trails, several disc golf courses, and bank fishing.
Lake Sakakawea State Park
If you and your fur baby like water activities on a lake or the river, Lake Sakakawea State Park has both. To get the full experience of the park, book a campsite to stay at the park. There are 239 sites, most of which have electricity and water if you have an RV. The campground has playgrounds, restrooms with showers, a swimming beach, a marina with a store, and several trails.
In the rest of the park, you will find miles of lakeshore, several more playgrounds for the kiddos, a boat ramp, concessions, a fish cleaning station, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and a few swim beaches. The 368,000-acre lake offers lots of recreational opportunities, including fishing for salmon, pike, and walleye. The Missouri River also has great fishing, tubing, floating, and kayaking fun.
If you want a good meal you do not have to cook, take Fido to Boots Bar & Grill in Medora. They offer burgers, wings, and sandwiches, as well as egg rolls, fried fish, and quesadillas.
Dickinson
In the southwestern corner of the state, Dickinson offers you and Fido an affordable stay with 11 hotel rooms under $100. In fact, WoodSpring Suites has rooms for just over $50 with full kitchens and private baths. Badlands Inn & Suites is just $60 per night and has a gym, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and an on-site lounge. Heritage Hotel & Suites is also $60 and even has an indoor pool with a hot tub.
Nearby, take your pooch to Dickinson Dog Park, less than three miles away. The large fenced pup play space has a separate small dog area, water fountains, benches, and waste stations. Your pup can run through tunnels, climb obstacles, and pee on the fire hydrants while you relax and enjoy his happiness. Seeing your fur baby playing happily is always a treat.
Afterward, go down the street to Patterson Lake, where you can play disc golf, explore the hiking trails, go for a swim, go boating, or have a picnic.
Devils Lake
Pack up your swimming suit, towels, and sunscreen, and take your fur buddy to Devils Lake, North Dakota, for a fun summer vacation. The small city of Devils Lake only has about 7,200 residents, and the lake is not even in the city. But it is right on the border, so it may as well be. First, you can choose from a dozen different dog-friendly hotels, including five with swimming pools and other fun features.
Devils Lake has several parks surrounding it but the best one is Grahams Island State Park because it has its own fenced off-leash dog park. There are also several hiking trails, world-class fishing, a boat ramp, and a bait shop as well as a fish cleaning station so you can clean and cook what you catch.
If you want to stay in the park instead of the hotel, book early because there are only 108 campsites. They all have electricity and water as well as picnic tables, a tent pad, and a fire ring.
Fort Ransom State Park
If you and your cuddle buddy enjoy hiking or just walking in the woods, Fort Ransom State Park has what you are looking for. In fact, there are 16 trails in the park, from short and easy to long and difficult. The easiest and shortest is the one-mile Little Twig Trail. For something a little longer, the Redetzke Ridge Trail is 2.8 miles along the ridge with gentle hills and prairies. There are lots of hawks and other wildlife along this route.
A little more difficult, the Little Twig-Nelson 80-Fire Break-Pederson Hills Trails Loop has four miles of incredible beauty. If you want something more challenging and longer, the 9.1-mile Fort Ransom State Park Trail takes you along the Sheyenne River, through the woods, and over several meadows of wildflowers.
The park also has a campground but there are only 59 sites so reserve your spot early. For something incredibly unique, rent the Percheron Wagon, and you can sleep in a covered wagon!
Williston
Feeling lucky? Couples with dogs choose Williston for its awesome casino. You will need to leave Fido at a doggie daycare like Anna’s Groom Room where he can stay and play as well as get a new hairdo. Then, take your sweetheart to Grand Treasure Casino where they have more than 400 slot machines! They also have table games like poker and blackjack. You get free beverages while you are there but you have to pay for alcohol.
If you want to take your honey to dinner, the Painted Pony Restaurant has everything from burgers to breakfast foods. They even have pizza and steak. Speaking of steak, you can cook your own at the Steak Pit. They give you the meat and you can grill it up right there to get it just how you like it! What a cool way to impress your significant other.
Afterward, pick up your pup and take him to the Spring Lake Park Dog Park. It is completely fenced, so he can run around off the leash, and there is a special section for small dogs.
Mandan
Located in southwestern North Dakota, Mandan has 24,206 residents with 4,034 fur babies. This is a wonderful place for a weekend getaway this summer. If you have the kids with you or you are a kid at heart, you can enjoy Raging Rivers Waterpark. This place has some incredible slides. There are two-speed slides that drop 66 feet, or try the 45-foot slides if you are not ready for the big ones! There is also a lazy river and several pools.
Then, pick up your pooch and take everyone to the Missouri River State Natural Area. It has 157 acres of recreational space and your pup is welcome on a leash. Fishing here is popular and there are several trails to explore. Be sure to bring lots of doggie bags for easy cleanup.
Give your pooch some off-leash time to play with other fur babies at The Mandan Dog Park. It has some awesome agility equipment like tunnels, a dog walk, weave poles, and jumps.
Icelandic State Park
With 912 acres, Icelandic State Park has lots of room for snow play with your dog this winter. As long as your cuddly canine compadre is on a leash, he is welcome to join you on the trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There are five trails good for skiing and snowshoeing including the Wildwood Trails, which is a half-mile interpretive trail over footbridges and through the Gunlogson Nature Preserve.
The Old Settlers Trail is a bit longer with 1.5 miles through the woods to Bluebird and Basswood Trails. They are groomed for skiing in the winter and have a few picnic tables you can use. You can also go sledding at the sled hill. Saving the best part for last, the park also has a fenced pooch play space for off-leash fun.
If your pooch is up for it, you can rent a kicksled and let him pull you around for a while. Make sure you protect his paws from the ice and snow and keep him bundled up.
Minot
The whole family will love Comfort Suites in Minot. They have an indoor pool with a water park and slide for the kids as well as a hot tub for the grownups. There is also a game room, gym, free Wi-fi, and a bar. Find a dog sitter for your pooch and take the family to the Roosevelt Park Zoo. The park is not huge but it has 20 different species from the African Lion to the White-Handed Gibbon.
Roosevelt Park also has a swimming pool, splash pad, walking trails, and picnic shelters where you can have a barbecue. You can also enjoy a game of volleyball, let the kids play on the playground, or even go fishing if you have the tackle you need. Don’t miss the Magic City Discovery Center just north of the park, where they have over 150 interactive exhibits.
Don’t forget your pup! Take him to the Dakota Bark Park, where he can run around off the leash on three whole acres.
Jamestown
What is more romantic than enjoying a hot tub with your honey? Maybe a candlelight dinner at an outdoor fireplace. Or you can get breakfast in bed with room service. You can do all of that at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Mariott. After doing all the romantic stuff, head out to Frontier Village for some fun and history. Your leashed pooch is welcome to join you at the replica frontier town where you can experience it all, including a saloon and stagecoach.
Also, in Frontier Town, the National Buffalo Museum does not allow dogs inside, but they can go see the herd of buffalo outside. There are 200+ buffalo in the field. Then, you can get some selfies with Dakota Thunder, the World’s Largest Buffalo. He is 26 feet tall and weighs 60 tons.
Finally, take your little buddy to Peppers Dog Park where there is two acres of fenced space for your pooch to enjoy without a leash holding him back. It also has a small dog section and water fountains.
Lake Sakakawea State Park
Sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are all popular activities at Lake Sakakawea State Park on one of the largest lakes in the country. The wind on the lake is well-known, and you will see a lot of locals on the water during the summer. Camping at the lake is also pup popular with 201 campsites to choose from. Be sure to book your site early, though, because this is a busy place.
The campground has showers, restrooms, water, utilities for RVs, concessions, a swimming beach, and playgrounds. Fishing here is also quite popular and they have a fish cleaning station so you know there are some big fish out there. If you want to take a hike, there are four trails ranging from a quarter of a mile to 2.7 miles.
If that campground is full, you can try Hazen Bay Recreation Area, just a few minutes away. There are 135 campsites, showers, boat docks, three playgrounds, and picnic areas. It even has a dog park.
The Final Woof
North Dakota has a lot to offer pet parents, with hundreds of vacation rentals, dog parks, and dog-friendly restaurants. If you are looking for something really affordable, Bismarck and Dickinson both have lots of hotels with rooms under $100. If you want to camp, check out Theodore Roosevelt National Park or Lake Sakakawea State Park. For those who like the snow, you can enjoy lots of it in Bottineau and Icelanc State Park. If you are bringing the kids, Grand Forks has a hotel with its own water park, and Minot has a fun zoo with hundreds of animals. Jamestown is a nice place for a romantic vacation where they have a hotel with a hot tub and outdoor fireplace.
