Overall North Dakota only has 13 state parks, but each of them offers a unique landscape that combines natural scenic beauty, with plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and long stay camping.
Taking the form of gorgeous valleys, dense woodland, beautiful prairies, shimmering lakes and raging rivers, they provide a heart warming reminder of how beautiful the world is in places.
If you live in or around Fargo, these parks are great places to go to for a day trip, weekend jaunt or a longer stay. Especially if you love activities like hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, boating, camping, cross country skiing and sledding,
Of the 13 state parks in the Peace Garden state, 5 of them stand out to us as being especially worthy of a visit. In case you are wondering what they are, we have outlined them all below in more detail.
Map of State Parks Near Fargo ND
Here is a map of the North Dakota state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Fargo
The five state parks near Fargo listed below are places we highly recommend you visit. They can all be reached within a three and a half hour drive of the city.
1. Buffalo River State Park
Distance from Fargo: about 16 miles east of Fargo (straight-line).
Buffalo River State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, conserving a prairie bisected by the wooded banks of the Buffalo River.
Highlights associated with Buffalo River State Park include lake recreation, river access, and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Buffalo River State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Maplewood State Park
Distance from Fargo: about 46 miles southeast of Fargo (straight-line).
Maplewood State Park covers 8,127 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Highlights associated with Maplewood State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include hiking trails and a visitor center.
See our full Maplewood State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Fort Ransom State Park
Distance from Fargo: about 59 miles west of Fargo (straight-line).
Location: 5981 Walt Hjelle Pkwy, Fort Ransom, ND 58033
Taking its name from an historic military fort that dates back to the 1860s, Fort Ransom State Park is situated within the spectacular woodlands of the Sheyenne River Valley.
Reached via an 80 minute drive west of Fargo, the park incorporates a short section of the North Country National Scenic Trail.
A haven for fishing, canoeing and bird watching, Fort Ransom State Park is also one of North Dakotas few designated horse parks. Accordingly set up with 68 corrals and a range of other amenities that accommodate equestrian visitors.
Overall there are more than 20 miles of trail system within the park that are open variously throughout the year for horseback riding, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
The park also has a number of lodging options including modern and primitive equestrian campsites, as well as modern and primitive campsites.
Fort Ransom State Park is a public recreation area located in the Sheyenne River Valley two miles north of the town of Fort Ransom in Ransom County, North Dakota.
Highlights associated with Fort Ransom State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Fort Ransom State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Little Elbow Lake State Park
Distance from Fargo: about 65 miles southeast of Fargo (straight-line).
Location: County Road 16, Everts Township, Minnesota 56515
Little Elbow Lake State Park is a state park in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Established 1989.
Highlights associated with Little Elbow Lake State Park include lake recreation, wooded landscapes, and wetland habitat.
See our full Little Elbow Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Glendalough State Park
Distance from Fargo: about 65 miles southeast of Fargo (straight-line).
Location: Battle Lake, MN
Glendalough State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, in Otter Tail County near Battle Lake close to Minnesota State Highway 78.
Highlights associated with Glendalough State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Glendalough State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
