North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway

One thing I caught on to pretty quickly on our road trip was the fact that North Dakota is hella quirky. And I AM HERE FOR IT. You know how some road trip stops feel like they were created specifically to entertain kids and keep parents laughing? That’s the Enchanted Highway. It’s weird, wonderful, and exactly the kind of roadside magic that makes North Dakota unforgettable.

We hit the Enchanted Highway on the way from Bismarck to Medora, and again on the return trip. Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect from this wacky collection of sculptures — but it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun parts of our whole trip.

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What Is the Enchanted Highway?

The Enchanted Highway is a 32‑mile stretch of rural road between Gladstone and Regent, North Dakota, lined with massive metal sculptures; some over 60 feet tall. They’re whimsical, strange, and absolutely perfect for families who love quirky roadside attractions.

The sculptures include:

Mile 0 – Geese in Flight
Mile 3 – Deer Crossing
Mile 15 – Grasshoppers in the Field
Mile 19 – Fisherman’s Dream
Mile 24 – Pheasants on the Prairie
Mile 26 – Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again
Mile 30 – World’s Largest Tin Family
Mile 32 – Enchanted Castle Gift Shop (Regent)
Mile 32.5 – Enchanted Castle Hotel, Knight and Dragon Sculpture in progress

Each one has a pull‑off area where you can park, explore, and take photos.

Our Experience on the Enchanted Highway

On Day 2 of our road trip, we drove from Bismarck to Medora. Although I had read about the Enchanted Highway, I didn’t plan on stopping to check out any of the sculptures. Since we were partnering with Medora, I wanted to get there ASAP and stay on schedule.

But when “Geese in Flight” came into view, towering over the prairie like it was signaling us, I knew we had to stop. And I’m so glad that we did.

Our daughter, who is an aspiring artist, loved checking out the towering sculpture. And the boys? They were thrilled to run around and burn off some energy, which honestly made the stop even better.

The best part? There’s no rush. No crowds. No pressure. Just you, the sculptures, and the quiet (minus the kids running around) North Dakota landscape stretching out in every direction.

Date Erected: 2001

Weight: over 78.8 tons

Size: 154’ long and 110’ tall

Largest Goose: 30’ wingspan

Scrap Metal Used: oil tanks & oil well pipe

Record: Guinness World Record since 2002 – Largest Scrap Metal Sculpture

A few days later, on our way back to Bismarck, we decided to squeeze in one more stop along the Enchanted Highway. We only had a few minutes to spare since our flight was in a couple of hours, so we hit the next closest sculpture, “Deer Crossing”. This one wasn’t nearly as tall as “Geese in Flight”, but we ended up loving it even more. There’s a walk‑through metal maze next to the sculptures, and the kids ran through it a few times like they were trying to beat some imaginary record. It was such a fun, random little detour before heading to the airport.

Date Erected: 2002

Buck Size: 60’ wide x 75’ tall

Doe Size: 50’ wide x 50’ tall

Scrap Metal Used: oil well tanks

Kid‑Friendly Highlights

This stretch of highway is basically a playground disguised as art.

Room to run — Every sculpture has a huge open area where kids can sprint, climb, and explore.
Giant sculptures — Kids LOVE anything oversized. These are massive, weird, and perfect for photos.
Zero crowds — You’ll likely be the only family there, which means freedom to roam.
Quick stops — Each sculpture takes 5–10 minutes, making it ideal for restless kids.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Enchanted Highway

Plan 1–2 hours depending on how many stops you want to make.
Bring water — there are no services along the road.
Fuel up beforehand — Gladstone and Regent are tiny.
Watch for wildlife — deer love the prairie.
Download your map — cell service is spotty.
Start from the north if you’re heading to Medora — it flows perfectly into Painted Canyon.

Why It Belongs in Your North Dakota Itinerary

The Enchanted Highway is one of those stops that feels uniquely North Dakota — creative, quiet, quirky, and full of charm. It breaks up the drive beautifully and gives your kids something to talk about for the rest of the trip.

Plus… the photos are gold.

What’s Coming Next in the Series

This post is part of our full North Dakota road trip series. Each stop will get its own dedicated blog post, and once they’re published, I’ll embed the links right here so you can follow along:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame
Medora, and more!

And at the end of the series, I’ll share a full itinerary you can use to plan your own North Dakota road trip.

Stay Connected with Us

If you’re enjoying our North Dakota road trip series, make sure you’re following along on all our socials — that’s where we share the behind‑the‑scenes moments, reels from each stop, and all the chaotic‑good family travel energy.