HappeningCooler days and clear air, a good time for walking the trails and the loop road. Services begin to wind down at the end of the month (dates vary). Bison and wild horses are on the move.
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.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Medora is small and the badlands are wide, so plan the arrival with the car and the weather in mind.Details
Getting here
Medora lies beside the interstate in western North Dakota. Most visitors fly to a regional airport such as Bismarck or Dickinson and drive from there, so check ahead on flights and rental cars. You will want a car for every day of this trip.
Fuel, food and supplies
Medora is a small town and the country around it is empty. Fill the tank and a water bottle before each day out, and carry snacks. Many services in town run only in the warm months, so check ahead if you come outside them.
What to wear
Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, sun cream and a layer, since the weather can change fast on open ground. In summer the heat is real. In winter the cold is bitter and the roads can close, so check ahead on the road and the forecast.
First evening
Take a slow walk through Medora and look at the old buildings on the main street. Day 1 starts at the visitor center of the park and the cabin beside it.
How much walking? On foot, about 0.3 to 0.5 miles a day, and 60.9 miles by car or transit in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. The Maah Daah Hey Trail and the south and Painted Canyon and the east
3 stops · 13.7 mi by car or transit
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Maah Daah Hey Trail
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 whenMorning, 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.
A trailhead on the Maah Daah Hey Trail south of Medora, on gravel roads. A second point to walk a stretch of the long trail. Take water and check ahead on the road.
Go whenMorning, before the heat, in the cooler months.
Local tip A trailhead on the Maah Daah Hey Trail south of Medora. It needs a car and a gravel road, which can be impassable when wet. Take water, wear a hat and check ahead on the road.
Lunch
Kuchen and coffee
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.
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 whenLate 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.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. Medora and the South Unit entrance
3 stops · 0.5 mi on foot, 7.2 mi by car or transit
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Painted Canyon OverlookAbout 27 min by car or transit7.2 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Midday
Chateau de Mores
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 whenMidday, 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 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 whenLate 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.
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 whenAfternoon, 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.
Dinner
Fried chicken
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.
If it rains. Chateau de Mores and Billings County Courthouse are covered, so keep them. Move Medora to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. Medora and the South Unit entrance, part 2
3 stops · 0.3 mi on foot
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
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 whenMorning, 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 whenMorning, 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 small church in Medora, built by the Marquis de Morès, who founded the town. It is a place of worship, so stay quiet and look at the front from the street.
Go whenMorning, outside the hours of services.
Local tip A small church in Medora built by the Marquis de Morès. It is a place of worship, so stay quiet, and look at the front from the street.
If it rains. Everything today is indoors, so rain does not change the plan.
Day 4. Painted Canyon and the east and The Scenic Loop Drive
3 stops · 14.4 mi by car or transit
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from St. Mary's Catholic ChurchAbout 15 min by car or transit3.2 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
Morning
Peaceful Valley
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 whenMorning, 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 museum west of Medora about the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, set near the national park. Check ahead on whether it is open and what is shown before you go.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A museum west of Medora about the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt. Check ahead on whether it is open and what is shown before you go.
A hill in the east of the South Unit, seen from the loop road. Look out over the badlands and keep clear of bison near the road.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:06 PM), as the light softens.
Local tip A hill in the east of the South Unit. Look for the view from the road, keep clear of bison and check ahead on the loop road before you go.
If it rains. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is covered, so keep it. Move Peaceful Valley and Buck Hill to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. The Scenic Loop Drive and The grassland and the west
3 stops · 25.6 mi by car or transit
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Buck HillAbout 24 min by car or transit6.5 mi
Where Day 4 ended.
1
Morning
Wind Canyon
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 whenMorning, 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.
About 29 min by car or transit7.9 mi
2
Morning
Little Missouri National Grassland
A vast national grassland of open grass and badlands that surrounds the park, crossed by the Little Missouri River and by gravel roads. Drive public roads slowly, and check ahead on the weather.
Go whenMorning or late afternoon (about 7:06 PM), for the light and the animals.
Local tip A vast mix of open grass and badlands that surrounds the park. Gravel roads cross it and can be impassable when wet. Stay on public roads, close any gate you open and check ahead on the weather.
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 whenMidday, 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.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. The interstate runs right past town, but the nearest large airport is a long way off, so leave room for the road.Details
Check-out
Pack the night before and fill the tank. If a storm or snow is forecast, check ahead on the road and leave early, since weather can slow the interstate.
The road out
The airport is a long drive from Medora, so do not plan a tight connection on the same day. Check the road ahead before you set off, and keep water and a warm layer in the car.
If you have a few hours
Stop once more at the visitor center and look out over the badlands, or take the interstate east to the Painted Canyon Overlook, which lies right beside the road.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Medora?
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.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 5 days in Medora, planned for september. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
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.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
On foot, about 0.3 to 0.5 miles a day, and 60.9 miles by car or transit in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
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