North Dakota road guide
The best motorcycle roads in North Dakota
The best motorcycle roads in North Dakota are in the west, where the Little Missouri badlands carve deep, colorful country around Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Add the Killdeer Mountains and Lake Sakakawea, the Enchanted Highway's giant sculptures, the Missouri River byways around Bismarck and the wooded valleys and hills of the east and north, and you get 10 rides, each with its region, why it's worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 10
- Regions
- 3
- Signature ride
- Theodore Roosevelt NP
- Check before you go
- NDDOT 511
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in North Dakota
North Dakota surprises riders who only know I-94. The east is flat farm country, but the west breaks into the Little Missouri badlands, buttes and river breaks, with empty roads and big wildlife. The middle has the Missouri River and its history, and the north and east hide wooded valleys and lake country. Most of the best roads are designated scenic byways, and none of them are crowded.
The season is short, the distances are long and the west is oil country, with heavy truck traffic around Watford City and Williston. Check NDDOT's 511 travel information and the national park's road status before you go, and read the best time to ride in North Dakota first. The North Dakota motorcycle rides overview covers the state as a whole.
The west
Badlands and Lake Sakakawea roads
- 1. South Unit Scenic Loop Drive (Theodore Roosevelt National Park)Why: From Medora, the Scenic Loop Drive winds through the Little Missouri badlands past bison, wild horses and prairie dog towns, with overlooks over layered buttes. Watch for: Bison and horses in the road. Large parts of the loop have been closed for years for road repairs after the pavement slumped, so check the park's current road status before you plan the full drive. The park charges an entrance fee. Best season: June and September.
- 2. North Unit Scenic Drive (Theodore Roosevelt National Park)Why: About 14 miles from the entrance off US 85, south of Watford City, out to the Oxbow Overlook above the Little Missouri River. Quieter than the South Unit, with steep badlands walls and big views. Watch for: Bison on the road and sharp curves near the overlooks. It's an out-and-back, so plan fuel. Best season: June to September.
- 3. US 85 from Belfield to Watford CityWhy: The road that links the two park units, crossing badlands breaks and the Little Missouri River on the way north. Big scenery in short bursts. Watch for: Heavy oilfield truck traffic, construction, dust and gravel on the shoulder. Best season: June to September, early on weekend mornings.
- 4. Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway (ND 22 and ND 23)Why: North from Killdeer through badlands breaks and grassland, then east to New Town across the Four Bears Bridge over Lake Sakakawea. Big sky and big water. Watch for: Oilfield trucks, crosswinds on the bridge and long gaps between services. Best season: June to September.
Central North Dakota
Missouri River and central byways
- 5. Enchanted HighwayWhy: About 32 miles from the I-94 exit at Gladstone south to Regent, past a series of giant scrap-metal sculptures standing in the fields. Easy riding and a one-of-a-kind stop on the way to or from the badlands. Watch for: Cars stopping suddenly at the sculptures and farm equipment. Best season: May to October.
- 6. Old Red Old Ten Scenic BywayWhy: A relaxed alternative to I-94 between Dickinson and Mandan along the old Red Trail and old US 10, through small towns like Richardton and New Salem, home of Salem Sue, a giant Holstein statue on a hill. Watch for: Farm equipment, railroad crossings and small-town speed zones. Best season: May to October.
- 7. Native American Scenic Byway (ND 1806)Why: South from Mandan along the Missouri River past Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and into the Standing Rock Reservation, with river bluffs, open grassland and a lot of history. Watch for: Deer, few services and gravel at junctions. Best season: May to October.
- 8. ND 1804 north of BismarckWhy: North of Bismarck, ND 1804 follows the Missouri River country toward Washburn, home of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and a reconstructed Fort Mandan. Rolling river breaks and quiet two-lane. Watch for: Deer near the river and farm traffic. Best season: May to October.
The east and north
Eastern valleys and the Turtle Mountains
- 9. Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic BywayWhy: From Lake Ashtabula south through Valley City toward Fort Ransom, through a wooded river valley with some of the few real curves in eastern North Dakota. Valley City's tall railroad bridge is a landmark. Watch for: Gravel on rural roads, farm traffic and deer. Best season: June to early October, with color in late September.
- 10. Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway (ND 43)Why: Through the Turtle Mountains near Bottineau, with lakes, aspen and oak forest, and the International Peace Garden a short ride away on the Canadian border. A green surprise after the northern plains. Watch for: Deer, summer lake traffic and slow vehicles. Best season: June to September.
Summary
North Dakota motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| South Unit Scenic Loop Drive | West, Medora | Jun and Sep, check closures |
| North Unit Scenic Drive | West, Watford City | Jun to Sep |
| US 85, Belfield to Watford City | West | Jun to Sep |
| Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Byway | West | Jun to Sep |
| Enchanted Highway | Southwest | May to Oct |
| Old Red Old Ten Byway | Central | May to Oct |
| Native American Scenic Byway (ND 1806) | Central | May to Oct |
| ND 1804 north of Bismarck | Central | May to Oct |
| Sheyenne River Valley Byway | East | Jun to early Oct |
| Turtle Mountain Byway (ND 43) | North | Jun to Sep |
In the app
Add North Dakota roads to Rippin'
North Dakota's roads are almost all waiting for a rider to add them. Ride one with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. Read how roads get added and how segments and leaderboards work.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and a bison standing in a badlands curve is the best argument for that we know.
North Dakota is wide open for Turf Wars. A loop from Medora up US 85 and back through the badlands closes on itself, and the land inside becomes yours on the live map. Here are the North Dakota roads riders have already added.
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FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in North Dakota?
The roads through Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the badlands around Medora are the highlight. For a second ride, try the Enchanted Highway's sculptures or the Killdeer Mountain byway to Lake Sakakawea.
Is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park loop road open?
Parts of the South Unit's Scenic Loop Drive have been closed for years for road repairs. Check the park's current road status before you go. The North Unit Scenic Drive is a good alternative.
Are there curvy roads in North Dakota?
Yes, in the west. The park roads in the badlands, US 85 and the Killdeer Mountain byway have real curves and elevation. In the east, the Sheyenne River valley is the best bet.
How long is the Enchanted Highway?
About 32 miles, from the I-94 exit at Gladstone south to Regent, with giant metal sculptures along the way.
Is oilfield traffic a problem for motorcycles in North Dakota?
In the Bakken oil country around Watford City and Williston, truck traffic is heavy. Expect dust, gravel on the shoulder and big vehicles turning, and ride early on weekends when traffic is lighter.
Can I add North Dakota roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a North Dakota road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride the badlands with it recording, and add the road. Your name stays on it.
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