Prairie Knights Casino & Resort
4.1(1.8K)google
2.8(26)yelp
Youth-FriendlyNight-FriendlyIndoorLuxuryPerformance
Overview
Prairie Knights Casino and Resort is a casino and lodge located near Fort Yates, North Dakota, on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and about 50 miles (80 km) south of Bismarck-Mandan. It is operated by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The casino offers high stakes gaming options, along with 725 slot machines, blackjack, craps, among other games.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeOpen 24 hours a day, offering an excellent climate-controlled luxury entertainment retreat out on the Standing Rock plains. Saturday nights from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM provide the ultimate high-energy social scene, with the gaming floor buzzing, premium dining active, and national country rock acts lighting up the Pavilion stage.
Getting ThereCommanding the prairie highway at 7932 Highway 1806, roughly 16 miles north of Fort Yates. Driving a vehicle is essential: follow ND-1806 S south from the Bismarck-Mandan area straight through the river ridges for approximately 45 minutes; the massive neon resort tower and its enormous free surface lot will appear on your right.
Travel Tips
- Located within the remote Standing Rock Reservation down ND-1806, driving at night requires extreme high-beam vigilance for sudden wildlife crossings (deer/bison).
- The on-site RV Park features full hookups, but freezing winter temperatures force a complete outdoor water shutoff from late October through April.
- Marquee Pavilion concerts sell out months ahead; post-show traffic on the single ND-1806 highway causes massive bottlenecks lasting upwards of an hour.
Reviews
Positive
- A massive resort set in the sweeping plains, featuring a fantastic pavilion theater hosting top-tier rock and country concerts.
- The casino offers an extensive selection of slots, and the Hunters Club restaurant serves mouthwatering ribeye steaks at solid prices.
- The lodge rooms are clean and deceptively spacious, offering cozy beds and unhindered panoramic views of North Dakota sunrises.
- The hospitality team is mostly from the local community, demonstrating incredibly polite, warm, and genuine service to guests.
Heads up
- The location is highly remote, situated nearly 45 minutes south of Bismarck along lonely rural highways, requiring a full fuel tank.
- As a smoking-allowed property, the ventilation above the main casino floor lags, causing cigarette smoke to cling heavily to clothes.
- Front desk check-in speeds can slow down to a crawl during Friday afternoon rushes, creating long unguided lines in the lobby.
- The indoor pool water can feel a bit too chilly in the deep winter, and worn-out non-slip mats in the locker rooms need replacing.