Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Three days in the badlands of western North Dakota, based in the small town of Medora. Visit the cabin Theodore Roosevelt used before he was President, drive the loop road through the South Unit of the park, stand above Painted Canyon and spend a day on the Maah Daah Hey Trail. Wild bison, wild horses, heat in summer and hard winters make this a trip for people who like open country.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How much walking? On foot, about 0.4 to 1.6 miles a day, and 22.3 miles by car or transit in all across 3 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
A gentle first day on foot and by a short drive. Start at the South Unit visitor center of the national park, then see the cabin Theodore Roosevelt used in the 1880s, and walk the small town of Medora.
Soft scrambled eggs with crisp shredded potatoes, a plain filling start before a day of walking in the cold air of the plains.
Local tip Add coffee and take a second helping of potatoes if you plan a long walk.
The only American national park named after a single person, in the badlands of western North Dakota. It has three separate parts. The South Unit lies beside Medora and is the one this trip uses, with the loop road and the walks. The North Unit is a long way north. Start at the South Unit visitor center to ask about roads, wildlife and trails, and check ahead on what is open.
Go when Morning, before the sun is high and the roads fill.
Local tip Ask at the visitor center about road closures, wildlife and the trails before you drive out. Bison are wild and can be dangerous, so keep well back. Carry water and check ahead on what is open.
The cabin Theodore Roosevelt used from 1883 to 1884, before he became President, now standing beside the visitor center. It was his first cabin in Dakota Territory. Look at it from the outside, and check ahead on whether you can go in.
Go when Morning, right beside the visitor center.
Local tip Roosevelt used it before he was President, in 1884, after his mother and his wife died within hours of each other. Keep the mood plain and respectful, and check ahead on whether you can go in.
A burger made with bison meat, which is leaner than beef and deeper in flavor, with pickles and onion on a bun, a taste of the prairie.
Local tip Ask for it cooked through, since bison dries out if it is overdone.
A small town on the Little Missouri River, founded in 1883 by the French nobleman Marquis de Morès and named for his wife. Walk the main street slowly, look at the old buildings and the church, and let the afternoon stay open. Many services run in the warm months only, so check ahead.
Go when Late afternoon (about 7:06 PM), when the light softens.
Local tip Walk the main street and look at the old buildings. A small town with a short season, so check ahead on what is open, especially outside the warm months.
Crisp, golden chicken with potatoes or coleslaw on the side, a plain supper of the northern plains after a day outdoors.
Local tip Eat it hot, and carry the leftovers cold for tomorrow's picnic.
A day by car through the South Unit. Follow the Scenic Loop Drive past an old ranch in a valley, a short canyon walk and an overlook of the badlands, then take the interstate east to look into Painted Canyon. Check the roads ahead, since park roads can close in bad weather.
Thick toast spread with jam made from the small, tart chokecherry, a berry of the northern plains with a deep red color.
Local tip Buy a small jar to take home, and check that the lid is tight before you pack it.
A valley of the South Unit about three miles from Medora, with the buildings of an old ranch above the Little Missouri River. The ranch dates from 1885 and was later a dude ranch before the park took it over. Check ahead on the road and on what is open.
Go when Morning, before the heat builds.
Local tip The old ranch buildings stand above the river. Watch for wild horses and bison, keep back and check ahead on the road and on what is open.
A short walk on a trail in the north of the South Unit, with a view over the Little Missouri River and the eroded hills. Wear sturdy shoes, take water and keep to the path, since the soft ground can be loose.
Go when Morning, or (about 7:06 PM) when the wind drops.
Local tip The path is short but the edges are soft, so stay on it and keep children close. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water. Take a layer, since the wind lives up to the name.
A thick potato soup with soft dumplings, a dish of German-Russian farm families in the Dakotas, warm and filling for a cool day.
Local tip Dip bread in it, and take a thermos if you plan a picnic.
A viewpoint on the Scenic Loop Drive in the east of the South Unit, looking out over the badlands. Wild horses and bison graze in the park, so watch from the car or from a long way back, and never walk up to a bison.
Go when Midday, as a stop on the drive.
Local tip Pull in, step out and look across the hills. Keep your distance from any bison or wild horses near the road, and check ahead on the Scenic Loop Drive, which can close in bad weather.
An overlook beside the interstate east of Medora, above Painted Canyon, a valley named for its colorful rocks. Walking trails lead down from the overlook, so take water and a hat, watch for rattlesnakes on warm days and check ahead on the visitor center.
Go when Late afternoon (about 7:06 PM), when the colored rock glows.
Local tip The overlook is right beside the interstate, so you can stop on the way in or out. Trails lead down into the canyon, so wear sturdy shoes, take water and watch for rattlesnakes on warm days.
Ears of sweet corn with butter and salt, beside a grilled steak of local beef, a summer supper of the plains.
Local tip Sweet corn is in season in late summer, so ask what is fresh.
A day that turns to the old West. Walk or ride a stretch of the Maah Daah Hey Trail from the state park south of Medora, then see the house of the Marquis de Morès, and end at the old county courthouse, now a museum.
A thin, soft flatbread of potatoes, brought by Norwegian settlers, rolled with butter and sugar, a Scandinavian taste of the northern plains.
Local tip Roll it up warm, and try a second with jam.
A long trail for hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers through the Little Missouri National Grassland, with several trailheads. This stop is the state park south of Medora, which the park article calls the starting point of the trail. A short out and back walk is plenty, and bikes are not allowed in the national park itself. Check ahead on the trail and the gravel roads, which can be impassable when wet, and watch for rattlesnakes and wild bison.
Go when Morning, before the heat, in the cooler months.
Local tip Walk out a little way and come back the same way. Take more water than you think you need, wear a hat and watch for rattlesnakes. Gravel roads to other trailheads can be impassable when wet, so check ahead.
The house the Marquis de Morès built in 1883 as a hunting lodge and summer home, now part of a state historic site with two parks around it. It tells the story of a French nobleman who tried to build a meat business in the badlands. Check ahead on the opening.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A house of the 1880s with parks around it. Walk the grounds as well as the rooms, and check ahead on the opening.
A German-Russian dessert, a soft, sweet crust filled with fruit or custard, a farm kitchen treat of the Dakotas.
Local tip Share a slice, since it is rich, and add coffee.
The former county courthouse of Medora, built around 1880 and remodeled in 1913, now the Billings County Museum. The rooms hold local pioneer and western objects, a restored courtroom and jail. A calm indoor stop for a hot or wet afternoon. Check ahead on the opening.
Go when Afternoon, as an indoor stop on a hot or wet day.
Local tip It is a small museum run by a local historical society. Look at the courtroom and the jail first. Check ahead on the opening.
A slice of fruit or cream pie to finish a last supper in the badlands, the kind of dessert a home kitchen on the plains might serve.
Local tip Ask what fruit is in the pie today, and share a slice if you are full.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to June and August to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Medora. This plan is built for september, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 3 days in Medora, planned for september. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
On foot, about 0.4 to 1.6 miles a day, and 22.3 miles by car or transit in all across 3 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
On the trip, Archie keeps your days, your map and your bookings in one place, and keeps it handy when you have no signal.
Already made this plan yours? Sign in with the same email and it is there.
5 days in Yellowstone and Grand TetonAbout 390 miles away
