US 83 runs through the Western part of Washburn, meets SR 200 North of the city and CR 22 towards the Southern part.

A few historic sites remain in the area representing the past life here. At the Fort Clark Historic site over 2,200 surface features represent the ruins of houses, graves, storage pits and other cultural items are the remain of the fort built around 1831 as a trading post South of the Mandan village to expand trade with the Indians. The Knife River Indian Villages Historic site has been created to preserve historic and archeological remnants of the culture and agricultural lifestyle of the Northern Plains Indians. The The McLean County Historical society Maintains two museums which are highlighted by a mural of Lewis & Clark's stay at Fort Mandan which was created by a local artist and is adjacent to the two museums. The museums have on exhibit among which are a Riverboat display, doctor's office & instruments, barber and beauty shops, a bedroom, dining room and kitchen, laundry room, farm tools, military memorabilia and uniforms and replicas of historic buildings. One of the city's two major parks, Riverside, along the Missouri river, has a paved walking trail, public boat ramp and dock, the historical Sioux Ferry, picnic shelters, fireplaces, a playground and a nine-hole Frisbee golf course as well as a primitive camping area for both tents and campers.