Okay, so you want to explore Medora and the North Dakota Badlands, but don’t know where to start. That’s where I come in. I’m a junkie for creating itineraries, saving money, and sharing what I’ve learned.
Below you’ll find an awesome family travel guide to Medora, ND with lots of ways to save money in Medora. This is a detailed itinerary with exactly what my family did on a recent trip…and how we saved money along the way (so we’ve got more in the bank for future adventures.) We stayed three nights, plenty of time to explore without being overwhelmed. There are things we didn’t have time to see that will be fun to check out next time.
We had so much fun, this is sure to be a rinse and repeat vacation for years to come.
Why We Decided on This Trip
Here are some reasons we decided on this trip, and ways to save money in Medora.
- Its proximity to Minot, where we live.
- We often center family trips around National Parks because they offer many free low-cost options.
- Paid park entry is only $30 and good for seven days. Entry is FREE for military members and veterans—just be sure to ask for a military park pass!Park programs and ranger talks are free with admission.
- The National Park’s Junior Ranger program is FREE. This allows kids to earn a wooden park badge by completing a fun workbook in the park.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park has a wildlife loop with options for short hikes—perfect for our young family (our kids are ages 6 and 3.)
- Lots of free activities in town.
- Discounts or FREE admission for kids to popular attractions.
- For more details on why Medora is a PERFECT destination for military families, check out this post all about Military Discounts in Medora.
Day 1 Arriving in Medora, ND
Heading out:
Since Medora, ND is only a few hours drive from Minot, we weren’t in a rush to get up early and leave right away. **Also, it should be noted that Medora, ND is on mountain time.
Let’s save money in Medora:
Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the road. We stopped at Riverside Park in Beulah, ND. It’s got a playground we love.
Add extra fun to your journey with free pitstops along the way. We enjoyed the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery and seeing a few installations along the Enchanted Highway.
Stop in Dickenson on your way into Medora to pick up groceries you may need (or pack them from home.) We bought milk, and fruit at Walmart; we packed cereal, snacks, and PB&J fixings from home. This keeps costs down on eating out, if your kids are unadventurous eaters.
Checking In at The Badlands Motel
The nostalgic style of the Badlands Motel set the perfect tone for our trip. Here are some things to know:
- Great accessibility to Point to Point Park
- Walkable/bikeable to most things in town
- Has a pool for guests.
- Incredibly kind, helpful staff
- Rooms are wonderfully clean
- Bathrooms have a shower, but no tub (which is nice to know if you’ve got young children.)
- Complimentary coffee, ice, and water available in the lobby.
- Rooms have a microwave and mini fridge.
- The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation provides wifi throughout the Badlands Motel and Point to Point Park. Overall, cell service was strong—even though this is a very easy place to disconnect and unplug for a few days!
First Adventure –Point to Point Park
Our motel room door opened directly across from Point to Point Park. While my husband unloaded the car, the boys and I went to explore.
Let’s save money in Medora! Free fun at Point to Point Park:
Jumping cushion
Playground zip lines
Splash pad
Pickleball (all equipment can be checked out at the desk.)
Wooden park/playground
Hiking trails
Dinner + Bedtime
We grabbed dinner out at the Badlands Pizza Parlor, which offers buffet style dinners and carry out pizza. After eating, we took in live music at the Town Square Patio, then took the kids to Point to Point Park’s Wooden Playground.
Let’s save money in Medora!
There is a discount for kids buffet at Badlands Pizza Parlor.
We really enjoyed the buffet, but you can save even more money by ordering carry out pizza to eat in your room, or as a picnic at the Town Square Patio.
The Wooden Playground (Medora Children’s Park) was a highlight for our family, and it’s FREE.
Day 2: Theodore Roosevelt National Park—South Unit
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Visitor’s Center
After breakfast and coffee in the room we went to the National Park Visitor Center to get set for a day in the Badlands. At the Visitor Center:
- Get some pro tips from the pros. Ask a ranger for tips on the best activities and hikes for your family.
- Pick up a Junior Ranger work book.
- Check out the attached museum to learn about Teddy Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands, animal life, and history of the park. It’s really beautifully done.
- Look around Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin to see what life was like when he stayed in the Badlands.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
We began our day at the park at 8:30am. We spent about five hours in the park. Here’s what we did:
- Drive the wildlife loop (note, parts may be under construction.)
- Stop for wildlife along the way, as spotted. We saw bison, prairie dogs, feral horses, a porcupine, and deer.
- Skyline Vista
- Peaceful Valley Ranch—short walk and snack time at a picnic table
- Our favorite prairie dog town was just before the Wind Canyon Trail
- Boicourt Overlook + Trail
- Buck Hill—by this time our kids were pretty worn out and hungry. They stayed near the car eating a picnic lunch while my husband and I took turns exploring a bit more.
- Drive back out, stop at the Visitor Center with completed Junior Ranger books.
Let’s save money in Medora!
If you’re military or a veteran, get your FREE national parks pass at the visitor center.
Doing the Junior Ranger workbook means your kids will leave with a souvenir from the trip. For us, this cuts back on spending money in the gift shop.
Rest, Pool, Dinner
Here’s how we spent the afternoon:
- Resting in our motel room.
- Grownups had lunch from Point to Point Concessions.
- Badlands Motel Pool (FREE for guests.)
- Dinner at Little Missouri Saloon (great views from the upper patio!)
- Play at the Wooden Park/Medora Children’s Park (FREE!)
Sunset over the Badlands
MUST SEE! Do not miss this! Drive back into the park to Wind Canyon Trail for sunset. Although this is a “hot spot,” the trail wasn’t crowded. The experience was transformative, peaceful, and idyllic. (And completely FREE.)
Day 3: Point to Point Park and Medora
Breakfast in town
Our third day in Medora focused on staying in town. We started the day with caramel rolls from The Cowboy Café, which I highly recommend, especially if you catch them straight from the oven.
After breakfast the kids wanted to play on the Wooden Playground (yes, it’s that fun). I went with them while my husband hiked the Point to Point Trails.
Let’s save money in Medora!
Instead of getting a full breakfast, just stick to something simple like caramel rolls (just $6 each) and coffee.
The Point to Point Trails are a short walk from the Badlands Motel and completely FREE to access. These are suitable for all ages.
Point to Point Park
On our final day, we took advantage of the paid activities at Point to Point Park. These include the Manitou Zip Line, Little Bully Pulpit Mini Golf, and the wading pool + lazy river. Here’s what you should know:
- Minimum height for the zipline is 42” (must be accompanied by a rider over 47”.) Riders 48” and taller may ride alone.
- The pool and lazy river have towels available.
- Be sure to pack goggles and a life jacket/water wings for your kids if they like to use those while swimming.
- Little Bully Pulpit mini golf is 18 holes beautifully built into the landscape. Each hole is paired with a bit of history for the area, which was great for a fun-fact nerd like me.
Let’s save money in Medora!
Activities can be purchased alone or as a bundle. Bundling the activities will save you money.
Save the zip line for the last day of your trip if you don’t want to face pressure from your kids to buy a second, third, or fourth ride.
Mini golf is discounted for kids, and FREE for kids under seven.
Kids under three are FREE at the pool and lazy river.
The pool and lazy river offer discounted admission from 4-7pm daily.
Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner
There’s a good reason Medora is famous for its Pitchfork Steak Fondue dinner. You won’t fully understand until you experience for yourself. The dinner is held near the amphitheater for the Medora Musical, and the scenery looks like a something out of a painting.
Open air seating, live music, and fresh Badlands breeze make this an unforgettable night. Not only is the setting wonderful, the food and service are top notch. Throughout our meal, the chef came out to ensure everything was above expectations, and explaining how staff and volunteers were there to help as needed. As he said, “If you don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth, it’s your own fault.”
The Pitchfork Steak Fondue is a bit of a splurge for a frugal family, but the experience is worth it.
Let’s save money in Medora!
This meal is HUGE (steak, baked potato, fruit, veggies, coleslaw, baked beans, bread, drinks, and dessert), and served buffet style! Skimp on lunch and come hungry.
Kids 12 and under eat FREE! (They get the full buffet with a hot dog entrée.)
The Big Finale—The Medora Musical
No trip to Medora, ND is complete without taking in The Medora Musical. If you’re not familiar, this is a two-hour patriotic music spectacular performed nightly in an amphitheater settled right into the hills. It’s got cowboy vibes, a dancing Teddy Roosevelt, and all the nostalgic red, white, and blue you can handle.
Again, it’s something you have to see to appreciate. Even if musical theater isn’t your jam, it’s impossible to sit through The Medora Musical without being entertained. Here are some extra tips you should know.
- Some days have a 5:30pm and 7:30pm show—if you’ve got young kids, I highly recommend the earlier show. My three year old was too tired to stay for the whole show and left with my husband at intermission.
- After intermission, a variety act performs. This changes through the season, so check out the schedule when planning your trip to maximize your enjoyment.
- There is a short firework display at the end. They weren’t super loud, but I like to let other parents be aware in case they have noise/light sensitive kiddos.
- I’m really glad we saved this as the finale to our Medora trip. It was a great way to round off an unforgettable weekend.
Let’s save money in Medora!
Military and veterans get 50% off tickets all season long.
Certain dates off military FREE admission.
Kids attend FREE every Wednesday and Sunday.
Save This One
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly vacation, this itinerary from Medora, ND is it! There are plenty of things to do, even if you just stick to the freebies. And with all that money you’ll save, you can start planning your next adventure.
For more great ideas on Midwest travel, North Dakota living, and ways to save money and maximize fun, follow me on Instagram at Hey Minot and Amy Allender. If this guide was helpful, remember to save it and share it with a friend who loves fun and saving money.
