Dickinson, North Dakota, is a sneaky-good girls’ weekend destination in peak summer: long daylight hours, warm evenings at the ballpark, and just enough outdoorsy Badlands scenery to feel like you truly got away. Add in local boutiques, a brewery lunch, and a wine-flight finale, and you’ve got a weekend that’s equal parts fun, easy, and very photo-friendly.
This relaxed, doable itinerary hits the best stops in town plus a couple of short drives that make the weekend feel bigger than a typical city break.
This post was created in partnership with Visit Dickinson and includes paid compensation. As always, all opinions (and recommendations) are entirely my own.
Where to stay: Hawthorn Suites
For a girls’ weekend, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dickinson makes a great home base. It’s comfortable, convenient, and keeps you close to the places you’ll actually be spending time, downtown shopping, dinner spots, and the ballpark. The best part? You can keep the weekend simple: check in, drop your bags, and get right into “vacation mode” without a bunch of extra logistics.
Friday: Arrive, settle in, and start with BBQ
Check in + get the weekend vibe going
Plan to arrive Friday afternoon or early evening. After you check in at Hawthorn Suites, take 20 minutes to freshen up and do a quick “weekend planning huddle” (aka: decide who’s driving when, what everyone’s wearing to the game, and which person is in charge of the playlist).
If you’ve got time before dinner, this is also a great moment to do a short loop through town and get your bearings. Dickinson is easy to navigate, and knowing where things are makes the rest of the weekend feel effortless.
Dinner at JD’s BBQ
Kick off the weekend at JD’s BBQ, the kind of place that instantly sets a casual, fun tone. This is a perfect first-night dinner because it’s low-pressure and built for sharing.
A few girls’ weekend moves that always work here:
- Order a couple of mains and sides “for the table” so everyone can try a little bit of everything.
- Don’t rush. Let Friday night be your slow start, catch up, laugh, and settle into the weekend.
- Throw those peanut shells on the floor! Yes, you read that right. This place not only encourages it but will put them on the floor when you leave if you don’t do it! One of the few spots left encouraging you to get messy!
- If you’re planning a busy Saturday, keep it cozy: dinner, a quick dessert stop (if you’re feeling it), and then back to the hotel to recharge.
Saturday: Downtown shopping + The Market + baseball night + Painted Canyon views
Morning: Downtown Dickinson boutique shopping
Start Saturday with a slow morning and a shopping-focused first half of the day. Downtown Dickinson is a great place to browse local boutiques and small shops, exactly the kind of “wander, pop in, try things on, take mirror selfies” energy you want for a girls’ weekend.
Make it a mission:
- Look for locally made gifts and North Dakota-themed finds that don’t feel cheesy.
- Pick one “treat yourself” item each (a top, earrings, a candle, a cute travel accessory) and hype each other up.
- Build in a smoothie stop at Fresh SIps so you can shop without feeling rushed.
Late morning: Shops at The Market (Salt Kitchen & Co + Out of Town Boutique)
Next, head to The Shops at The Market, a fun, easy cluster of stops that feels made for a weekend itinerary.
- Salt Kitchen & Co is a must, even if you’re just browsing. If your trip dates line up, their cooking classes are such a good girls’ weekend activity: hands-on, social, and a little different than the usual “shop and eat” routine.
- Out of Town Boutique is the kind of place where you’ll find something cute and unexpected. It’s also a great stop for last-minute “game night” outfits or accessories.
Tip: If you’re traveling with a group, set a time limit per shop so you don’t accidentally spend your whole day browsing (unless that’s the plan, which is also valid).
Midday: Lunch + beers at Phat Fish Brewing
Next, head to Phat Fish Brewing for lunch and beers.
A few easy ways to make this stop feel extra girls’ weekend:
- Do a mini tasting so everyone can try a few options
- Split appetizers so you can sample more of the menu
- Sit and linger, this is your built-in “rest stop” before the rest of the weekend’s adventures and fun
Early Afternoon: Theodore Roosevelt Center
After refueling with lunch, shift gears with a quick culture stop at the Theodore Roosevelt Center. It’s an easy way to add something meaningful to your weekend without turning it into a full museum day.
This is a great stop for:
- A break from the heat during peak summer afternoons
- A little local history context before you head toward the Badlands
- A “we did something educational” moment that still feels fun and light
Late afternoon: Painted Canyon Overlook (Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
Now for one of the best effort-to-reward stops in the area: Painted Canyon Overlook in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s a short drive from Dickinson and gives you that iconic Badlands scenery without committing to a long hike.
Go late afternoon into early evening if you can. In peak summer, the light is gorgeous and the views feel extra dramatic.
What to do here:
- Take your time at the overlook and soak it in
- Snap the classic group photo (windy hair included)
- If you’re feeling ambitious, do a short walk nearby, just keep it simple so you’re not sweaty heading into your night plans
Evening: Badlands Big Sticks game night at the ballpark
Head back to town and make Saturday night your main event: cheer on the Badlands Big Sticks at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
Peak summer baseball season is exactly when this is the most fun, warm evenings, that upbeat crowd energy, and the kind of night where you can talk, laugh, and still feel like you’re doing something.
Make the most of it:
- Arrive a little early to grab good seats and explore the concession options
- Get the great ballpark food (this is not the weekend to be “responsible”) and they are know for standout concessions with an extensive topping section for your burgers and dogs
- Take photos during golden hour, then settle in for the game
Sunday: Hidden-gem breakfast + Enchanted Highway road trip + vineyard dinner
Morning: Breakfast at Frida’s (inside Lucky’s gas station)
Start Sunday with a true local hidden gem: Frida’s Mexican breakfast inside Lucky’s gas station. Don’t let the location fool you, this is one of those “only the locals know” spots that ends up being a highlight.
Order something hearty and take your time. Sunday is your “slow down and savor it” day.
Late Morning: Drive the entire Enchanted Highway
Now for the signature North Dakota experience: drive the entire Enchanted Highway. It’s quirky, iconic, and genuinely fun, especially with a group.
To make it a core memory:
- Build a road trip playlist ahead of time (or take turns DJ’ing). When I went, I ended up finding a CD I made for my 16th birthday in the car! Don’t worry, I converted the entire thing into Spotify here to bring all the millennial road trip vibes to you: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4vo6DAWRFZizwfqRQ8pkvu?si=1c218c40217e4b3a
- Stop for photos at the big installations (yes, even if it’s windy)
- Pack water and a couple of snacks so you’re not hangry between stops
This drive is also a great way to end the weekend with something that feels uniquely “here.” You can shop and eat anywhere, but the Enchanted Highway is pure North Dakota.
Evening: Dinner + wine flights at Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery
Finish the weekend on a high note with dinner and wine flights at Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery. After a day on the road, this is the perfect “cheers to us” finale: slower pace, cozy vibes, and a fun way to taste a few different pours without committing to just one.
If you’re celebrating something (birthday, promotion, “we survived a chaotic month”), this is the moment to toast it.
Quick weekend recap (at a glance)
- Stay: Hawthorn Suites (Dickinson)
- Eat: JD’s BBQ; Frida’s Mexican breakfast (inside Lucky’s gas station)
- Drink: Phat Fish Brewing; Fluffy Fields Vineyard & Winery (wine flights)
- Shop: Downtown Dickinson boutiques; Shops at The Market (Salt Kitchen & Co + Out of Town Boutique)
- Do: Theodore Roosevelt Center; Painted Canyon Overlook; Badlands Big Sticks game at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark; drive the entire Enchanted Highway
Why Dickinson is the perfect girls’ weekend
If you’re looking for a girls’ weekend that’s fun without being complicated, Dickinson checks every box. You get the best parts of summer, warm ballpark nights with the Badlands Big Sticks, easy shopping (downtown and at The Market), and those wide-open Painted Canyon views that make you feel like you truly escaped, without spending the whole weekend in the car.
Save this itinerary for peak baseball season, send it to your group chat, and start assigning roles now: one person on tickets, one person on playlists, and one person in charge of making sure you don’t leave town without a Painted Canyon photo.
Looking for more to do in North Dakota? Check out some of my other blogs here:
The Ultimate North Dakota Road Trip for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
First-Timer’s Guide to North Dakota for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Opening
