One Tank Trip for North Dakota Camping

Bordering on Canada, North Dakota is a beautiful, expansive state that hasn't changed much since the days of Lewis and Clark. In fact, Lewis and Clark spent more time here than any other place on their journeys, and today, we're going to find out just what they saw here that had them so intrigued. Beginning our one tank trip in Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota, the city is rich with historic sites, educational attractions and cultural events. The North Dakota Heritage Center is a fascinating place with many static and traveling exhibits, and archives of manuscripts and books that tell the exciting history of this state. Many visitors will also find Camp Hancock of interest. Once a military post, it offered protection for working gangs building the Northern Pacific Railroad. Another must see is the Double Ditch Indian Village, an incredible site, which contains the ruins of a large Mandan Indian earthlodge village, believed to have been inhabited for nearly 300 years. For the birding enthusiast, Bismarck will be of particular interest; it's here you can follow the paths of renowned early explorers by searching the Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive for the wealth of birds that can be found here. Moving along our one take trip, we head to Washburn, about an hour and a half away on Hwy-83 N. Peaceful and serene, Washburn is located on the banks of the Missouri River and offers travelers a wide variety of sights and experiences. Fishing is abundant throughout much of the state, but the most popular place to set a line is here at Lake Sakakawea. The largest lake built by the Corp of Engineers, it has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline and extends westward almost 200 miles, and is one of the 3 largest man-made reservoirs in the nation. All of this makes Lake Sakakawea an angler's paradise, and a great place for a number of other water activities. Of great interest in this area is the Knife River Indian Village. A historic site, this fascinating place holds important, and historic, archaeological remnants of the Northern Plains Indians who once used this area as a major trading and agricultural center. The National Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is a must see on this trip. The Center provides an overview of the Lewis & Clark expedition, and contains many Native American artifacts of significant interest, all telling the story of the discovery and the settling of this wonderful city. The last North Dakota RV camping stop on our journey takes us to the wonderful city of Minot, just a short drive on Hwy-83 N. Travelers here should visit the Scandinavian Heritage Center and Park. Built to honor North Dakota's very large Scandinavian ancestry, this incredible park features remembrances and replicas from each of the Scandinavian countries. Every September Minot welcomes thousands of people to celebrate their Scandinavian culture at the Norsk Hostfest, the largest of its kind in North America. Featuring many exhibits, cuisine, art and jewelry, it's a wonderful experience, and shouldn't be missed! For birders, this is another exceptional place to do some great viewing. Located in the middle of five National Wildlife Refuges, Minot is a birding utopia. No matter what time of year you visit, North Dakota has a wealth of activities waiting for you including birding, camping, fishing, and plenty of winter fun! Back to One Tank Trips for 2011 Woodall's Recommended North Dakota RV Campgrounds