In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Medora
Stay 1–2 nights in season (late May–early Sep): the Musical, Pitchfork Fondue and the park loop fill one full day; outside season most of town shuts.
Medora is a small western-themed resort town at the north entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, on I-94 in western North Dakota. Almost everything — the Medora Musical, Pitchfork Steak Fondue, the Rough Riders Hotel, the shops — runs on a summer season, so the town is either busy or near-empty depending on the date. It works as a one- or two-night base for the park's South Unit, not as a standalone destination.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Late May–early Sep (park and shows open)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (seasonal closures, cold)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–130 excl. bed · Mid $130–220 excl. bed · High $220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Poison control 1-800-222-1222
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Casual meal | $12–20 |
| Steak fondue dinner | $35–50 (check) |
| Medora Musical ticket | $40–60 (check) |
| Motel room, summer | $100–250 |
| Gasoline, per gallon | $3–4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DIK · Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional
- About 36 mi east; small regional airport, limited flights — check schedules.
- BIS · Bismarck Municipal
- About 135 mi east; larger airport with more connections.
Typical fares
- Park entry, per vehicle
- about $30 (check)
- Medora Musical ticket
- $40–60 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Medora is small and walkable in the centre. A car is needed for the national park, the ranches and anything outside town; I-94 exits 23 and 27 serve the town.
See and do
Known for
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit
- Medora Musical
- Pitchfork Steak Fondue
- Rough Riders Hotel
- Badlands scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit | Drive from town to the park entrance; scenic loop road | Under 15 min to entrance |
| Dickinson | I-94 east, about 36 mi | About 40 min |
| Belfield | I-94 east, about 20 mi | About 25 min |
| Beach, North Dakota | I-94 west, about 25 mi | About 30 min |
| Bowman | Drive south via US-85 and ND-22 | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Downtown Medora (Pacific Ave / Third Ave)
- Walkable to shops, restaurants and the Rough Riders Hotel; best if you have no car in the evening.
- River Road / campground area
- Motels and campgrounds west and south of the centre; short drive to town.
- Guest ranches outside town
- Bar X, Buffalo Gap and similar ranches sit several miles out on River Road or near Exit 18; you need a car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the park entrance? | Where is the park entrance? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Most businesses are seasonal; outside late May–early September many are closed — check dates before booking.
- Cell coverage and services are thin outside town; fuel up in Dickinson or Belfield.
- Summer heat and sudden thunderstorms in the badlands; carry water on trails.
- Wildlife (bison) in the park: keep distance, do not approach on foot.
Medora is a small, low-crime town; the real risks are driving distances, summer heat and wildlife in the park. 911 works throughout.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Medora yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit
- Medora Musical
- Pitchfork Steak Fondue
- Rough Riders Hotel
- Badlands scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Medora official site: medora.com/
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (NPS): www.nps.gov/thro/
- North Dakota Tourism: www.ndtourism.com/
- Wikivoyage: Medora, revision 5088886 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5088886
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Medora
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Poison control1-800-222-1222
No embassies in Medora; nearest consular services are in larger cities such as Denver or Minneapolis — check.
Seasonal town: confirm opening dates before travelling.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/medora). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.