Why you should visit the rugged North Dakota Badlands in 2026
Discover the best seasons to visit, where to stay near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and how to explore this otherworldly landscape.
Theodore Roosevelt first traveled to the Badlands on a hunting trip in 1883. He was so taken by the otherworldly landscape of pastel buttes, trilling meadowlarks, and disappearing bison, that he returned in 1884 to grieve the simultaneous deaths of his wife and mother, raising cattle and working on the wild frontier for almost three years. Its “desolate, grim beauty” so changed Roosevelt that he famously wrote, “I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota.”
Opening on July 4, 2026, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library celebrates the Badlands as much as it does the 26th president. Designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, the state-of-the-art, sustainable library sits high on a lonely butte outside of Medora, a military camp turned frontier town named after a French nobleman’s wife.
The 93,000-square-foot library disappears into its surroundings, camouflaged by a living roof sprouting native plants, part of a 1.3-mile walking trail that provides sweeping views toward the national park. In lieu of books, the library transports visitors to the most pivotal moments of Roosevelt’s life via interactive exhibits, galleries filled with his belongings, and “digital historians,” AI chat boxes that cull data from Roosevelt collections housed in 18 different institutions.
The library is a short six-minute drive from Medora. But the surrounding Badlands stretch on seemingly forever, at least all the way to the new Three Affiliated Tribes National Park, 84 miles northeast of town. This tribal park on the banks of the Little Missouri River provides a perspective on this rugged country from the people— Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara—whose ancestors have lived on it for centuries.
(See all 25 destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2026.)
What to do
Medora Musical: Named after the wife of the French baron-turned-rancher Marquis de Mores, Medora (pop. 155) comes alive between June and September with “The Greatest Show in the West.” The 61-year-old variety act, performed under the stars in an outdoor amphitheater, tells the story of Teddy Roosevelt, the colorful history of Medora, and the transformation of the American West through singing, dancing, and extras like onstage horses.
Western Heritage Arena: Opening this summer, this modern rodeo ground equipped to hold elite-level rodeos, will be an active complement to Medora’s existing North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. It also holds special events like the three-day Medora Cowgirl Camp that teaches horsemanship to girls ages 8 to 14.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park: In Medora, the entrance to the park’s South Unit provides instant access to the mystical Badlands via a 48-mile circular loop road often lined by the wildlife—bison, elk, mule deer, pronghorn—that enthralled Roosevelt. There are short hiking trails along the route, like the .2-mile-long, west-facing Skyline Vista, and more strenuous backcountry trails like the 10.3-mile Petrified Forest loop that winds hikers through ancient trees and Badlands wilderness.
Maah Daah Hey Trail: Hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers up for a multi-day challenge can attempt the 144-mile-long Maah Daah Hey trail. It begins 30 miles south of Medora, climbs mesas, crosses the Little Missouri River, and traverses all three units of the national park. Mountain bikers are not allowed to ride in the national park but can detour on singletrack spur trails. Dakota Cyclery Mountain Bike Adventures in Medora is a woman-owned shop with bike rentals, mechanics, shuttles, and guides.
Three Affiliated Tribes National Park: Adjacent to the Fort Berthold Reservation, this new tribal national park, run collaboratively by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes, is not yet fully open to the public. But visitors who want to experience the heart of the Little Missouri Badlands Ecosystem through the historic and cultural lens of tribal guides can sign up for a series of hikes and photography workshops that are offered throughout the year.
When to go
The library will be open year-round, but much else in Medora shuts down during the winter. In the heat of July and August, trail runners and mountain bikers sweat through the Maah Daah Hey Trail Run Series or Maah Daah Hey 100 mountain bike race. September is a spectacular time to visit: The days are warm, the nights are cool, and the Badlands have a golden hue.
Where to eat
Theodore’s Dining Room in the Rough Rider Hotel offers fine dining with a local flare—walleye, elk, and bison are on the menu. For soul food, the Medora Gospel Brunch at the Town Square Show Hall mixes egg bakes and breakfast bacon with gospel hits performed by a live quartet. Hidden Springs Java in the old Mercantile storefront serves fresh pastries, iced coffee in the summer, and warming seasonal beverages like Peach Cobbler Latte in the fall.
Where to stay
From the ground up, Medora offers a range of sleeping options. Cottonwood Campground in the national park’s South Unit sits in a valley on the banks of the Little Missouri River about five minutes north of town. Lesser known Rough Rider State Park Campground, a few minutes south of town, offers tent, RV, and horse campsites, and is within steps of a Maah Daah Heh Trailhead. Rough Riders Hotel in town has Western-themed artwork on the walls and historic rooms where Roosevelt himself is rumored to have delivered speeches from the balcony. Scheduled to open in 2026 is the Presidential Lodge, a 100-room hotel across the street from the city pool.
Getting around
Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport offers two daily round-trip flights to Denver International Airport. The larger Bismarck Airport, 136 miles east of Medora, offers direct service to eight locations on four airlines. Once on the ground, it’s tough to navigate the Badlands without your own wheels. Both Dickinson and Bismarck airports offer on-site car rentals.
