Medora is a small Old West-themed town at the southern edge of the North Dakota Badlands, built up around the ranching history of a French marquis (Marquis de Mores) and Theodore Roosevelt's time ranching in the area in the 1880s. Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit surrounds it, with a 36-mile scenic loop road through eroded badlands terrain where bison, wild horses, and prairie dog towns are commonly seen from the car or short pull-offs. A day here mixes driving/hiking in the park with walking around Medora's compact main street.
| Distance | 133 miles from Bismarck via I-94 West |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 hour 35 minutes each way |
| Getting there | Private car required — I-94 West to Exit 24 |
| Address | Medora, ND 58645 (center of town at Main St & 3rd Ave) |
How to get there
- Private car (only practical option)
Location
Medora, ND 58645 (center of town at Main St & 3rd Ave)
46.9152, -103.5215 View on map
Highlights
- Scenic Loop Drive (TRNP South Unit) - 36 miles of badlands overlooks, with wildlife (bison, feral horses, prairie dogs) visible from pull-offs
- Painted Canyon Visitor Center - roadside overlook just off I-94 with a broad first view of the badlands before entering the park proper
- Chateau de Mores State Historic Site - the 1883 ranch house of the Marquis de Mores, furnished with original family belongings
- Maltese Cross Cabin - Theodore Roosevelt's original ranch cabin, relocated to the South Unit visitor center in Medora
- Medora Musical - outdoor summer stage show in an amphitheater cut into the badlands, running seasonally