Best Things to Do in MEDORA, ND
MEDORA MUSICAL
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll leave feeling better about life! This live, outdoor musical boasts top notch talent, costumes and set design. My first time at the musical I was expecting a narrative but instead, think of Lawrence Welk style “song and dance” numbers with an extra dose of patriotism and a wild west theme!
Every time I step foot in this amphitheater, my heart skips a beat. I cry almost every time during the patriotic songs. And there is always a car full of smiles and laughter as we drive back down the hill to town.
Here are my tips for attending the Medora Musical:
1. Go early. Although you can’t get into the stands very early on, it is worth it to go plenty early. Do some shopping in the gift shop, play bags by the pitchfork fondue, take in the sites of the natural landscape. The Pitchfork Fondue is definitely a must try but, for us, we did it once and that was enough. It is quite expensive so we usually eat before we go. Once you find your seats, watch the elk come in for their evening snack!
2. Save money! Kids are FREE Wednesdays and Sundays. Veterans are free one day each summer - this year (2024) they are free July 14th. Thank you veterans for your service!
3. Sit anywhere. The amphitheater is not crazy large, so all the seats are decent. We do prefer sitting toward the middle versus on the very edges though.
4. Watch the horizon line toward the end of the show to see something amazing! I don’t want to spoil it for you, but this part makes my heart skip a beat every time.
5. Don’t underestimate the variety acts! From a hilarious ventriloquist to comedians and even a high flying slam dunk team, we have never been disappointed with the incredibly entertaining acts the musical brings in for the ‘halftime’ type show during the musical. SO GOOD!
For info about the musical, visit: https://medora.com/medoramusical/
2. THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK
It can be easy to forget the modern world exists when stepping foot in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Rugged, untamed terrain, as far as the eye can see, beckons to be explored - over 70,000 acres, to be exact! I often imagine what the first settlers thought when coming upon this land. All land surrounding the badlands is grassy, flat and somewhat… boring. And then, suddenly, the earth just falls away and the dramatic, rock-layered buttes and wild brushy canyons are revealed.
Its pure magic.
Looking out as far as you can see there is very little sign of humankind. And even less sign of modern civilization. Bison, elk, mule deer and wild horses roam the park freely and can be seen easily from the comfort of your vehicle. Active and adorable prairie dog villages are scattered throughout with the tiny chirps and chatter of their intricate little society.
Short and long hikes take you on a more personal exploration of the land. Whether sunset or sunrise, a hike in Teddy Roosevelt NP will completely change your perspective on life.
But don’t take my word for it! Nobody could write it better than Teddy himself, who came to this area in his mid-20’s:
"My home ranch-house stands on the river brink. From the low, long veranda, shaded by leafy cotton-woods, one looks across sand bars and shallows to a strip of meadowland, behind which rises a line of sheer cliffs and grassy plateaus. This veranda is a pleasant place in the summer evenings when a cool breeze stirs along the river and blows in the faces of the tired men, who loll back in their rocking-chairs (what true American does not enjoy a rocking-chair?), book in hand--though they do not often read the books, but rock gently to and fro, gazing sleepily out at the weird-looking buttes opposite, until their sharp outlines grow indistinct and purple in the after-glow of the sunset."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Here are my tips for visiting TRNP:
1. Go during the week. Drives through the park and hiking trails are rarely ‘crowded’, but if you really want a quiet experience, visit on weekdays. **Bonus, the musical is free for kids on Wednesdays!
2. Start out by doing the South Unit’s scenic drive. Whether you have an RV full of family or just driving solo, the scenic drive is a must must. It is a 48-mile in-and-out drive (not currently a loop) and you can drive until you feel like turning around and then come back. It would take two hours to do the entire drive.
3. Wildlife seem most active around sunrise and sunset. The wildlife sightings I’ve experienced here have been nothing short of heart-stopping! Elk, bison, prairie dogs, mule deer, antelope and wild horses are abundant in the park! Watch far away and close up, check the grassy meadows for the horses and bison. Check up high for elk, coyotes, and sheep. Check the edges of the prairie dog towns for coyotes. And if you see a car or two pulled over, it likely means they’ve spotted something.
4. Go anytime of year! I often say that the best way to view the badlands is with a dusting of snow. It brings out the red rock, layered terrain and shows off the vast distances. A drive through western North Dakota on i94 ALWAYS requires a stop in the park.
5. Get the America the Beautiful pass. For $80/year you get access to any national park for an entire year. Free for veterans, persons with disabilities and 4th graders, this pass is a no-brainer for anyone who plans to visit more than a few national parks in a year. It is only $20/year for seniors age 62+ or $80 for a lifetime pass for seniors age 62+.
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm#america-the-beautiful-passes
6. Get out and walk around. There are great hiking trails in the park of varying difficulty. My favorite is the Wind Canyon Trail (.4 miles, 20 minutes in and out). A close second is the Petrified Forest Trail (10.3 miles, difficult, 5-6 hours) which I traversed on horseback but could be done on foot. I don’t, however, recommend doing the full loop as it is very interesting in the beginning, and then like 4 hours of flat, grassy plains, then very interesting at the end. Instead, I recommend going in the south loop until you reach the petrified forest, then turn around and head up to the north petrified fores. Wear some good hiking shoes with laced up ankles for this one!
3. HORSEBACK RIDING
THE best way to explore Medora and the badlands is by horseback. You get to hike without getting tired, get closer to wildlife and cover lots of ground with little effort.
Whether you bring your own horse or embark on a trail ride through the Medora riding stables, you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time to explore the badlands the way Theodore Roosevelt and many others did 150 years ago.
To make reservations for the hosted trail rides at Medora’s Riding Stables, visit: https://medora.com/trailrides/
The guides are friendly, the horses are adorable and very safe, and they make it a super fun, western experience. You’ll ride along the buttes of Medora and get great views and great fun! Some of these horses are also the horses used in the musical!
Places to Stay with Your Horse in Medora:
My favorite cabin at Bar X Ranch!
Bar X Ranch
My favorite place to stay with horses! Explore private land, hop on the Maah Daah Hey Trail, cross rivers, and maybe even get in on some ranch work!
Doug and his family host a casual, western campground with a variety of cabins as well as campsites with and without electrical hookups.
My favorite site on the campground is the log cabin situated on the banks of the Little Missouri River!
Horse Corrals are available adjacent to your site. Must Must Must Stay!
Sully Creek State Park
Just across the river from Bar X, Sully Creek is a great campground with or without horses.
Roundpen on site for warming up or working out the travel wiggles.
Situated right on the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
Hookups on site, 66 horse corrals. Flat and scenic sites, easy to access. Dump station on site. SUPER nice shower house.
Head south out of the park to hop on the Maah Daah Hey Trail that heads up to a stomach flipping, high rising trail at sunset to recreate my first picture above.
Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch
Full service lodge with wifi and refrigerator in room
Campsites with hookups
Room for 80 head of livestock
Restaurant on site
Adjacent to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and Buffalo Gap Trail
4. POOL, MINI GOLF, ZIPLINE - OH MY!
Fun for the whole family, Point to Point Park is my second favorite Medora activity - after horseback riding of course! Mini golf, splash pad, jump pillow, pool, lazy river, playground, zipline and a concession stand all within one area makes it super easy for family members to do different activities or hang out together!
SWIMMING POOL and LAZY RIVER - Nothing beats floating down a lazy river on a hot summer day. A few years ago, Point to Point Park added a beautiful pool and meandering lazy river. The pool deck is clean and supplied with lots of high quality, comfortable lounge chairs. Choose a shady spot under the tropical awnings or lay out in the sun if you’re working on a tan! Lifeguards are on duty at all times.
MINI GOLF - The Little Bully Pulpit mini golf course is so cute. Nestled between the edge of town and the dramatic cliffs of town, the course is well maintained and never boring!
ZIPLINE - A two-seater zipline chair gives you a wonderful view of town before launching you over the pool and coming to a quick stop near the splashpad. Exhilarating and doable for all ages. (minimum height of 42-47” for riders)
This park is located on the east side of town just north of main street. Look for the large blue jump pillow. You can park just east of the main building and be close to your vehicle while enjoying the park. Cost to enjoy all of the park’s amenities is about $30/person. Splash pad, jump pillow and playground are free. The food at the concession area is simple and good but a bit expensive so if you’re looking to save money, you may want to pack snacks.
Click here for more info about Point to Point Park: https://medora.com/pointtopoint/
5. EXPLORE THE SHOPS
Saltwater Taffy… Gift Shops… Clothing… Souvenirs… Candy… Ice Cream… Restaurants… (I must be hungry)…
You’ll want to set aside some money in your travel budget for shopping in Medora. I always love to visit the shops to purchase unique souvenirs, clothes and, of course, snacks!
The shops are set up right on main street in this tiny town. They are set up like an old-timey town and share a front porch. Its so cute! With ample parking, you can be close to your car and walk to all the shops in town - really, you could walk anywhere in town within about 5 minutes. I’ve even ridden my horse right down main street! >
You may want to purchase your tickets for the musical while in town, you can purchase them at Ticket Junction on the west side of town. The gifts in Ticket Junction are very good quality.
6. BULLY PULPIT GOLF COURSE
Although I’m not a golfer myself, many of my friends have rave reviews of Medora’s Bully Pulpit Golf Course. Located a few miles south of town, the golf course boasts 18 holes with picturesque views of the landscape and river. This course is rather time consuming, however, so be sure you’ve done your research before setting up a tee time using the link below.
