Fort Mandan
Washburn, ND
A replica of the log fort where the Lewis and Clark expedition spent the winter of 1804-05 on the Missouri River. The nearby interpretive center adds context; check seasonal opening before you go.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began building Fort Mandan on the Missouri on November 2, 1804, using cottonwood lumber, and wintered there until April 6, 1805. The fort was triangular with high walls; temperatures sometimes fell to about -43 °C (-45 °F). During the winter the captains met Sacagawea there; her son Jean Baptiste was born on February 11, 1805. The fort stood just downriver from the villages of the Mandan and Hidatsa. The precise location of the original is not known for certain and is believed to be under the river.
Today a replica stands near the North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center near Washburn. Allow one to two hours for the replica and the visitor center. Hours vary by season, so check before you go, especially outside summer.
- Nearest town
- Washburn, ND
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 47.3000, -101.1240
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Washburn RV ParkMotorhome stopover5 mi from Fort MandanMotorhomes
- Sakawea Stanton ParkCampsite12 mi from Fort Mandan
- Downstream CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Fort Mandan · 111 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking water
- Lake Sakakawea SP - Fishing PointCampsite22 mi from Fort Mandan · 10 pitches
- Totten TrailMotorhome stopover23 mi from Fort MandanMotorhomes
- Lewis & Clark RV ParkMotorhome stopover24 mi from Fort MandanMotorhomesWi-Fi
All campsites in North Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Fort Mandan?
Fort Mandan is in Washburn, ND, at GPS 47.3000, -101.1240. It is about 38 mi from Bismarck.
Can you camp near Fort Mandan?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Washburn RV Park, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 8 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Fort Mandan?
Places worth a stop nearby: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (12 mi), Salem Sue, the World's Largest Holstein Cow (34 mi), North Dakota State Capitol (37 mi) and Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (39 mi).
When is the best time to visit Fort Mandan?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)