South Unit Scenic Loop
Prairie dogs, bison and wild horses.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Colorful North Dakota badlands where a grieving young Roosevelt ranched, with bison, wild horses and prairie dogs.
A slump has closed part of the South Unit loop in recent years.Checked November 2, 2026 · Latest
A presidential library for Roosevelt was due to open in Medora in 2026. Check its status.Checked November 2, 2026
Theodore Roosevelt came here in 1883 to hunt, returned after his wife and mother died on the same day, and later said he wouldn't have become president without his years in North Dakota. His Maltese Cross Cabin stands behind the visitor center. Wild horses and bison roam the two main units.
The little cowboy town of Medora is the gateway, with its summer musical.
- Best Time
- May–September
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- On I-94, about 2.5 hours west of Bismarck.
What to See
1 of 4 are freeNorth Unit Scenic Drive
A quieter 14-mile road with deeper canyons.
Painted Canyon Overlook
A vast view of the badlands, right off I-94.
Medora
A cowboy town with the Medora Musical, and Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin nearby.
Know Before You Go
- Give bison and wild horses plenty of room. Summer storms can be severe.
Where to Stay
Stay in Medora.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Go Next
If You're NearbyBismarck
North Dakota
North Dakota's capital, with an Art Deco skyscraper capitol and Custer's old post at Fort Abraham Lincoln.
Full Guide
Must-SeeMount Rushmore
South Dakota
Four presidents carved into a granite mountain in South Dakota's Black Hills, with Badlands National Park nearby.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Midwest list.