2 Nights, 3 Days in Medora: Legends, Landscapes & Western Flair
Two nights and three days is enough to see Medora properly — the Badlands that shaped Theodore Roosevelt, the Presidential Library above them, and a town that still runs on Western hospitality.
Here is a day-by-day plan. Book the Medora Musical and the Pitchfork Steak Fondue in advance during the summer season.
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library on the butte above Medora.
The Chateau de Mores, built in 1883, overlooks Medora from the bluff west of town.
The Rough Riders Hotel in Medora.
Day 1: Welcome to the Badlands
- Stop at Painted Canyon Overlook for your first wide view of the North Dakota Badlands.
- Explore the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library on a guided tour focused on conservation, citizenship and leadership — history, landscape and civic life told through the exhibits.
- Have lunch on site at the Library Café, which features regional flavors and long views.
- Walk the restored native prairie, a living landscape that steps from the Library out into the surrounding National Park and Grasslands.
- Visit the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, home of the town’s founder.
- In the evening, stroll downtown Medora and grab dinner at Teddy’s.
Overnight in Medora
Banded buttes in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame on Main Street, Medora.
Live music and dancing under the open sky.
Day 2: Badlands beauty & Western charm
- Spend the morning in Theodore Roosevelt National Park — South Unit, driving the scenic loop with stops for short hikes and lessons in ecology, history and bison conservation, including efforts to increase genetic diversity in the herd.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park, provided by the Library Café.
- Return to town and explore the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, where exhibits cover rodeo, ranching and Native American heritage, then browse Medora’s shops.
- In the evening, take in the seasonal Medora Musical or the Pitchfork Steak Fondue for dinner and live entertainment with a view.
Overnight in Medora
Downtown Medora, with badlands bluffs rising behind the storefronts.
Bands of ancient clay, sandstone, lignite, and scoria record millions of years of Earth’s history in the exposed strata of the Little Missouri Badlands. (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 3: One last morning
- Start early and walk the Boardwalk and grounds at the Presidential Library for the morning light over the Little Missouri.
- Take a last walk through downtown Medora — the Joe Ferris Store, the Von Hoffman House, and the shops along the main street.
- Grab breakfast or coffee in town before you head out.
- On your way east, stop once more at Painted Canyon Overlook, just off I-94 — the easiest goodbye to the Badlands there is.
Plan the rest of your trip
Things to Do in Medora
Museums, the Medora Musical, trail rides, golf and more, most within a few blocks of the Library.
Where to Eat
From Salt+Scoria at the Library to steaks, pizza and ice cream in downtown Medora.
Where to Stay
Hotels, cabins and campgrounds in Medora, the national park and nearby Dickinson.
Hiking
Trails for every pace in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and on the Maah Daah Hey.