Experience Americas Most Treasured Roads
Touring the Byway
22 Miles | 4 Days/ 3 Nights | Gateway City: Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota
On Highway 200A from Washburn to Stanton you’ll follow the route of Lewis and Clark’s journey on the high ground above the winding Missouri River! Featuring fantastic views and intriguing sites, you’ll discover the history and culture of the native peoples who lived in the rolling hills and wooded valleys of the Missouri and Knife Rivers.
We recommend starting your journey in Bismarck for an introduction into Native American cultures in North Dakota, and Lewis and Clark. Starting at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, you can also enjoy the Lewis and Clark Riverboat to ply the Missouri River as the Expedition did.
View the Detailed Itinerary below to see the full route, which is complete with dining, shopping, and lodging recommendations!
Highlighted Attractions
Lewis & Clark Riverboat
Ply the Missouri River on the Lewis and Clark Riverboat, continuing the proud tradition of Missouri River steamers at the Port of Bismarck.
Five Nation Arts
Native Artists United Guild is a women-owned Native Cooperative formed by local artists who have revitalized Native American art and economy. They do business as the Five Nations Art store, supporting the livelihood of Native artists by gifting knowledge, building capacity and showcasing Native art.
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
Detailed and dramatic interpretation of Lewis and Clark’s journey is on display at the crossroads of culture and commerce on the Northern Plains. When Lewis & Clark arrived at the Mandan and Hidatsa villages in 1804, they simply became the most famous of many people who would visit. State-of-the-art exhibits, hundreds of period artifacts, and friendly interpreters reveal the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. To add further insights, Karl Bodmer’s watercolors and Maximilian’s written descriptions are considered the most complete and reliable eyewitness account of the Upper Midwest Native Americans. The Bergquist Gallery is only one of four galleries in the world to house a complete collection of Karl Bodmer prints, which are rotated on a seasonal basis.
Fort Mandan
Fort Mandan is an authentic replica of the fort where Lewis and Clark wintered. The Mandan and Hidatsa people were very hospitable, making their stay as comfortable as possible. Guided tours bring the stories of that winter to life.
Knife River Indian Village
The Knife River Indian Village was the major Native American trading center for hundreds of years before French Canadian arrived in the area around 1750. Begin your visit by watching Maxidiwiac, the 15-minute film about the Buffalo Bird Woman who lived in the villages. Explore the museum to learn about the Hidatsa people in exhibits that feature artifacts recovered from the village sites. Then head outside to see the full-scale Earth lodge, Hidatsa garden, and village sites and walk the Village Trail to see the remains of the Awatixa Xi’e Village and Awatixa Village. A loop from the second village includes a walk along the Knife River.
To experience all that North Dakota's Most Important Journey: Lewis & Clark has to offer, download the complete itinerary!
The detailed itinerary includes:
- A complete trip experience organized in geographic order, to print down and go.
- A full description of the Byway tour.
- Each trip experience begins in a gateway city with commercial flight availability (and often ending in another) to enhance the Byway experience.
- Attractions and activities along the full length of the Byway selected to truly tell the story of the places you visit.
- Detailed description of each attraction and activity, including the address, telephone number, hours of operation, admission fees and suggested time to allow for a visit.
- Accommodations (related to the theme of the Byway or unique to the destination wherever possible) positioned in the correct locations and including breakfast wherever possible.
- Dining suggestions positioned in the correct locations for lunch and dinner.
- All attractions, accommodations and dining locations arranged into Days that allow time for relaxation, savoring meals and enjoying the experience.
- A road trip to create memories and intrigue your mind.