Your North Dakota EBT card opens doors far beyond the grocery store. In 2026, North Dakota SNAP recipients can access $3 admission at Gateway to Science in Bismarck — the state’s only hands-on science center — for up to six family members, along with a Museums for All annual family membership option for unlimited free visits.
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, also in Bismarck, is always free for every visitor — no EBT card required — making it one of the best no-cost family destinations in the upper Midwest. In Fargo, the Plains Art Museum participates in Museums for All with EBT-discounted admission.
Beyond cultural attractions, your EBT card qualifies you for half-price Amazon Prime at $6.99/month, free or low-cost phone and internet service through Lifeline, produce-matching at farmers markets through Double SNAP Dollars, Summer EBT for children, and energy assistance through LIHEAP — particularly meaningful given North Dakota’s exceptionally severe winters.
This is the complete guide to every EBT discount available to North Dakota SNAP recipients in 2026.
A Note on North Dakota’s SNAP Program
North Dakota’s SNAP program is administered by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Benefits are loaded monthly onto your North Dakota EBT card. Applications are processed through HHS offices across all 53 counties and online through nd.gov/dhs/ssp.
At all Museums for All venues in North Dakota, you show your EBT card and a valid photo ID at the admission desk. The card is used only to verify SNAP enrollment — you pay any admission cost with cash, credit, or debit. Your EBT benefit balance cannot be used to pay for admission.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for SNAP in North Dakota, use the North Dakota SNAP eligibility calculator for an instant estimate. North Dakota has no asset test for most households and is one of the more accessible states for SNAP eligibility.
Amazon Prime — Half Price for North Dakota SNAP Recipients
North Dakota EBT cardholders qualify for Amazon Prime at $6.99 per month — less than half the standard $14.99 monthly rate. The membership includes free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and access to Amazon Fresh for online grocery ordering.
Sign up through Amazon’s Prime for EBT page and verify your enrollment by uploading a photo of your North Dakota EBT card or a recent benefit letter. A credit or debit card is required as a backup payment method; the $6.99 fee cannot be charged to your EBT balance. A free 30-day trial is available for first-time Prime members.
Bismarck — Gateway to Science & North Dakota Heritage Center
Bismarck is the heart of North Dakota’s EBT-accessible cultural landscape, with two of the state’s most significant educational institutions within a few miles of each other.
Gateway to Science (Bismarck) — $3 per person, up to six people; family membership available
Gateway to Science is North Dakota’s only hands-on science center — the state’s flagship STEM destination for families and children of all ages. Located on the Bismarck State College campus, the center has been igniting curiosity for over 25 years through interactive exhibits, year-round programming, and outreach that sends STEM educators across all 53 counties of North Dakota.
North Dakota EBT cardholders receive $3 per person through the Museums for All program for up to six family members — one of the most generous group limits of any Museums for All partner in the Great Plains. Present your EBT card and photo ID at the admissions desk. Standard adult admission is $8, making the $3 EBT rate a meaningful saving for a family of four or more.
Museums for All Family Membership: Gateway to Science offers a Museums for All Family Membership that provides free gallery admission for the member family — up to two adults and all minor children in the household — for unlimited visits throughout the year. This membership is available to EBT cardholders through the Museums for All program. For families who visit more than twice a year, the annual membership delivers substantially better value than per-visit pricing. Confirm current membership pricing and terms directly at gatewaytoscience.org or by calling the center.
The exhibit gallery covers energy, agriculture, weather, water, health care, and transportation — themes tied directly to North Dakota’s major industries and natural environment. Highlights include an augmented reality sandbox, a robotic arm, a solar-powered car, a 21-foot racetrack with buildable vehicles, an Anatomage virtual dissection table, a Science First area designed for toddlers, and hands-on electricity, light, and engineering exhibits. The 7,800-square-foot Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Innovation Space on the second floor focuses on 21st-century skills through collaborative, creative problem-solving.
Gateway to Science also runs STEM Adventure Clubs during the school year, summer camps, Preschool Discovery Hour, and a Girls Who Code program — many of which offer reduced-fee enrollment for low-income families.
Hours: Monday 10 AM–5 PM; Tuesday closed; Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM; Thursday 10 AM–7 PM; Friday 10 AM–5 PM; Saturday 10 AM–5 PM; Sunday 1–5 PM.
Address: 1600 Canary Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501. Phone: (701) 258-1975. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum (Bismarck) — Always FREE
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum — the largest museum in North Dakota, located on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck — is completely free for all visitors, seven days a week, with no EBT card required. Parking is also free.
This is one of the most underappreciated free museum experiences in the upper Midwest. The Heritage Center’s four major galleries trace 600 million years of North Dakota history — from the state’s ancient inland sea through the age of dinosaurs, the cultures of the Northern Plains peoples, the era of European exploration and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the homesteading period, and North Dakota’s emergence as an agricultural and energy powerhouse.
The paleontology collections alone justify a visit. The Heritage Center holds one of the most significant dinosaur fossil collections in North America — including specimens recovered from the Hell Creek Formation in western North Dakota, one of the world’s most productive dinosaur fossil sites. Exhibits include massive ceratopsian and hadrosaur specimens, and the museum’s natural history wing contextualizes North Dakota’s deep geological past in a way few other state museums achieve.
The Northern Plains peoples collection — covering the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, Nakoda, Dakota, Ojibwe, and Métis nations who have inhabited North Dakota for thousands of years — is one of the most substantive Indigenous cultural collections in the region.
All programming and rotating exhibitions are free as well. The James River Café and Museum Store are located on-site. Hours are Monday–Saturday 8 AM–5 PM and Sunday 11 AM–5 PM.
Address: 612 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505 (Capitol Grounds). Phone: (701) 328-2666. Always free; no EBT card required.
Dakota Zoo (Bismarck) — verify EBT discount
The Dakota Zoo in Bismarck is the only zoo in North Dakota, situated in Sertoma Park along the Missouri River. The zoo is home to more than 125 species of animals, including timber wolves, river otters, bald eagles, mountain lions, grizzly bears, and North American bison — animals native to the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain ecosystem. Contact the Dakota Zoo directly at dakotazoo.org or call (701) 223-7543 to confirm current EBT discount availability before visiting.
Address: 600 Riverside Park Rd, Bismarck, ND 58504.
Fargo — Plains Art Museum, Bonanzaville & More
Plains Art Museum (Fargo) — Museums for All discount
The Plains Art Museum in downtown Fargo is the premier fine art museum in North Dakota and one of the most significant cultural institutions in the upper Great Plains. Housed in a beautifully restored 1904 warehouse in historic downtown Fargo, the museum holds a collection of over 4,000 works with particular strength in contemporary art, regional Great Plains artists, and Indigenous art from the northern Plains nations.
As a Museums for All participant, EBT cardholders receive discounted admission. Verify the current EBT rate before visiting at plainsart.org or by calling (701) 551-6100. The Plains Art Museum also hosts rotating national traveling exhibitions, a gallery shop, and frequent community programming throughout the year.
Address: 704 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102. Phone: (701) 551-6100. EBT cards from all states are accepted.
Bonanzaville Pioneer Village & Museum (West Fargo) — Museums for All discount
Bonanzaville in West Fargo is one of the most ambitious open-air history museums in the northern Great Plains — a meticulously preserved pioneer village managed by the Cass County Historical Society. The site encompasses 43 historic buildings relocated from across the region, housing over 400,000 artifacts spanning the full arc of settlement-era North Dakota life.
Walking through Bonanzaville means walking through a functioning 19th-century community: a church, one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, general store, post office, barbershop, print shop, farmhouses, and agricultural equipment barns filled with original machinery. The site hosts Pioneer Days and Christmas on the Prairie events seasonally.
As a Museums for All participant, EBT cardholders receive discounted admission. Verify the current EBT rate before visiting at bonanzaville.org or by calling (701) 282-2822. Note that Bonanzaville is open seasonally — primarily May through October, with limited winter hours. Confirm before visiting.
Address: 1351 Main Ave W, West Fargo, ND 58078. Phone: (701) 282-2822.
Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm (Fargo) — call ahead to verify EBT
The Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm is a family destination set on a historic farmstead in Fargo featuring indoor hands-on exhibits for young children alongside outdoor amenities including children’s gardens, nature trails, a playground, mini-golf, a carousel, and train rides (seasonal). Contact the museum directly at (701) 232-6102 or visit yunkerfarmschildrensmuseum.org to confirm current EBT discount availability.
Address: 1201 28th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.
Fargo Air Museum (Fargo) — call ahead to verify EBT
The Fargo Air Museum houses an impressive collection of vintage and historic aircraft — including World War II aircraft, a P-51 Mustang, and a B-25 Mitchell — along with exhibits on North Dakota’s aviation history and an active restoration shop where visitors can observe craftsmen restoring historic aircraft. Contact the museum at (701) 293-8043 or fargoairmuseum.org to confirm current EBT discount availability.
Address: 1609 19th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.
Washburn — Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center (Washburn) — verify EBT discount
The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn — located near the reconstructed Fort Mandan where the Corps of Discovery wintered from October 1804 to April 1805 — is one of the most historically significant sites in North Dakota. This is where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped for five months during the northernmost point of their expedition, where they met Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau, and from which they pushed west toward the Pacific.
The center’s immersive exhibits document the full Corps of Discovery story as it unfolded on the upper Missouri River — the encounters with the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples at the Knife River villages, the brutal winter, the astronomical observations, the journals, and the relationships that made the expedition possible. The reconstructed Fort Mandan is a short distance from the center.
Contact the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at (701) 462-8535 or explorend.com to confirm current admission rates and any EBT discount availability.
Address: 2576 8th St SW, Washburn, ND 58577.
Statewide — Double SNAP Dollars at Farmers Markets
North Dakota SNAP recipients can access produce incentive programs at select participating farmers markets — including the Red River Market in Fargo and participating markets in Bismarck and other communities — which match SNAP spending on fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. The matching program doubles your produce-buying power at participating markets.
Ask at the market information booth for matching program details when you arrive. The Fargo Red River Market, held on Saturdays downtown, is the largest farmers market in the state and a natural starting point for SNAP cardholders looking to stretch their food budget on fresh North Dakota produce.
Phone & Internet — Lifeline
North Dakota EBT cardholders automatically qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25 per month off a monthly phone or internet bill. This is particularly meaningful in a state where cell and internet service can be expensive in rural and tribal areas. See the full Lifeline application guide for step-by-step instructions.
Energy Assistance — LIHEAP
North Dakota SNAP households automatically meet the income threshold to apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), which helps pay heating costs. North Dakota winters are among the most severe in the lower 48 states — wind chills of -30°F to -50°F are common across the open prairie from October through April, and heating oil, propane, and natural gas bills can run $300–$600/month or more during peak winter months.
Receiving even a small LIHEAP payment automatically qualifies your household for the highest SUA tier in your SNAP benefit calculation — meaningfully increasing your monthly food benefit at the same time. Contact 211 North Dakota (dial 2-1-1) or visit hhs.nd.gov to find your nearest LIHEAP program. See the LIHEAP application guide for more details.
Summer EBT for Children — North Dakota SUN Bucks
North Dakota families with school-age children who receive SNAP automatically qualify for SUN Bucks (Summer EBT), which provides $120 per eligible child each summer to replace free school meals when school is not in session. Funds load directly to your EBT card in June–August with no separate application needed for current SNAP households.
YMCA — Reduced Membership Rates
Many YMCA locations in North Dakota offer reduced or sliding-scale membership rates for SNAP/EBT cardholders. Contact your local North Dakota YMCA — locations in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot — to ask about current income-based pricing.
Walmart+ and Instacart+ — Discounted Delivery
Walmart+ is available to SNAP recipients for approximately 50% off the standard $12.95 monthly price — around $6.47 per month. Includes free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more and free shipping on Walmart.com.
Instacart+ is available to EBT cardholders who have placed at least one SNAP order on Instacart within the last six months, at $4.99 per month for the first year. Your North Dakota EBT card is accepted for grocery orders at participating retailers.
What You Can Buy With Your North Dakota EBT Card
North Dakota has not implemented any state-specific SNAP food purchase restrictions. All federally approved SNAP items remain purchasable with your North Dakota EBT card in 2026. For the full list of what SNAP covers and does not cover, see the SNAP-eligible foods guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What discounts do North Dakota EBT cardholders get in 2026?
North Dakota EBT cardholders receive $3/person (up to 6) at Gateway to Science in Bismarck, plus a Museums for All Family Membership option for unlimited visits; always-free admission at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum; discounted admission at the Plains Art Museum and Bonanzaville in the Fargo area; half-price Amazon Prime ($6.99/month); produce-matching at participating farmers markets; Lifeline phone/internet discounts; and SUN Bucks summer food benefits for school-age children.
Is the North Dakota Heritage Center free?
Yes — the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck is completely free for all visitors, seven days a week, with no EBT card required and free parking. It is one of the largest and most significant state museums in the upper Midwest. Hours are Monday–Saturday 8 AM–5 PM and Sunday 11 AM–5 PM.
What is the EBT discount at Gateway to Science in Bismarck?
Gateway to Science offers $3 per person through the Museums for All program for up to six family members. Present your EBT card and photo ID at the admissions desk. Standard adult admission is $8. Gateway to Science also offers a Museums for All Family Membership for free unlimited gallery visits — contact the center at gatewaytoscience.org to confirm current membership pricing.
Can I get a free annual membership at Gateway to Science with EBT?
Yes — the Museums for All Family Membership at Gateway to Science provides free gallery admission for a family (two adults and minor children) for unlimited visits. This is available to EBT cardholders through the Museums for All program. Confirm current membership terms and pricing at gatewaytoscience.org or by calling (701) 258-1975.
Does North Dakota have Double Up Food Bucks?
North Dakota participates in produce incentive matching programs at select farmers markets including the Red River Market in Fargo. Ask at the market information booth when you arrive about current matching program availability and limits. Additional markets in Bismarck and other communities may also participate — contact North Dakota State University Extension for current statewide program listings.
Can I get free internet in North Dakota with my EBT card?
Yes — through the federal Lifeline program, North Dakota EBT cardholders qualify for up to $9.25/month off their phone or internet bill. In rural and tribal areas of North Dakota where phone and internet service can be particularly expensive, this discount is especially valuable. See the Lifeline application to apply.
Check Your North Dakota SNAP Benefits
Your North Dakota EBT card balance can be checked by calling 1-800-630-4655, through the ebtEDGE app, or at the point of sale at any authorized retailer. For a full guide, see how to check your SNAP balance in North Dakota.
Additional resources: North Dakota SNAP benefits by household size — how to apply for SNAP in North Dakota — North Dakota WIC income guidelines — North Dakota Medicaid eligibility.
Last updated: 2026 | Discount programs, admission rates, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Verify current details with each venue before visiting. North Dakota SNAP is administered by the ND Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). EBT card support: 1-800-630-4655 (24/7).