Badlands

We would like to take a family trip to the Badlands but cannot seem to decide between Theodore Roosevelt National Park or the Badlands National Park. T. Roosevelt appeals to us because it is closer (we are driving from Park Rapids, MN) and from what I%26#39;ve read there are more chances to encounter wildlife without the crowds. Lodging seems to be a difficulty though. Are there any nice cabins for rent, or B%26amp;Bs on ranches, etc.in the area? Something a bit nicer than a roadside motel? Also, north unit, south unit, or both?

Badlands

If you have time, you should see both units while you%26#39;re here. The north unit gets less visitation due to it%26#39;s distance from the interstate. Medora, at the entrance to the south unit, has touristy/historical attractions and an interesting and challenging golf course. Both parks are beautiful and unique.

Here%26#39;s a link to a site listing some of the lodging near Medora.

medora.com/accommodations/arealodging.html

The closest town to the north unit is Watford City, about 15 miles. A google map search for lodging there will give you some ideas. For perspective, Williston is about 35 miles from Watford City. Arnegard, which has a bed %26amp; breakfast, is about 5 miles from Watford City.

Badlands

We have been to both Badlands NP SD and Th. Roosevelt NP, ND but only to the south unit of last one. We enjoyed both national parks and had a good stay in Medora. (Do you know about the Medora Festival?) But I must give unbiased advice and to us Badlands NP won because it%26#39;s more...well..Bad Lands.

Tet

What is the difference between Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park and Badlands? Aren%26#39;t they both in the same place?

Teddy Roosevelt National Park is in North Dakota. Badlands is in South Dakota.

I prefer TR...to me it%26#39;s much prettier with more colors %26amp; contrasts. Kinda like the layers %26amp; colors in the Grand Canyon...orange, red, black, grey. I think it%26#39;s also rougher country.

Maybe Badlands in South Dakota is different in different areas, but from what I saw in our driving around, there the buttes are more weathered %26amp; rounded and the colors were more pale grey, light yellow, white, etc, not the jagged terrain %26amp; vibrant colors of TR Park.

www.ndtourism.com lists several B%26amp;B, ranch and other %26#39;non-standard%26#39; lodging choices in the area.

I was confused because it talks about the Badlands of North Dakota as well. I will have 2 days in the South Dakota Badlands and a day in North Dakota. What do you think are the highlights to see and do? I was thinking of Theodore Roosevelt State Park, Mandan (Lincoln Park)..maybe stopping in Fargo or Bismarck to eat. In SD, we will see Deadwood, Custer, Mt Rushmore...possibly doing a Chuckwagon Supper.

You will be exhausted if you have one day to do all that. It takes a good 6 hours of just driving time to get to Fargo from the Medora (you are driving essentially across the longest part of the entire state). Fort Lincoln will take a little bit of time (and its not right on interstate either). The badlands in North Dakota are beautiful and Medora is lovely too (as is the Musical and pitchfork fondue). Its up to you, but putting all that into one day would be tough to do....plus you lose an hour of time since Medora is on Mountain and you end up in Central time zone.

What I was thinking of doing is: Drive from Wall to Medora on Monday afternoon night..if we get there for the pitchfork fondue..fine..if not, we will eat somewhere else. It would be nice to take a trail ride in the park, but maybe we could do that in Badlands. Then spending an hour or two taking a drive in the Badlands..starting about 8am. Then driving to Mandan and spending about 45 minutes seeing the sights there, then driving back to Minnesota with a stop to eat in either Bismarck or Fargo. Is it better to go on a horseback ride here or in the Badlands of SD?? Is it better to do the Chuck Wagon Supper in Black Hills or the Fondue Pitch in Medora? I appreciate any info that you can give me. THanks.

Here%26#39;s your driving times alone:

Wall to Medora--5 hours

If you start a 2 hour drive at 8am in Medora, that puts you at Mandan at 1pm...its a good 20 minutes to the Fort from Interstate (just drove by there last night). I assume you%26#39;ll eat lunch at Mandan before the Fort. Figure at least an hour (though maybe more at the Fort if you would like the chance to see more than just running through everything). That will put you into Fargo at 7pm. That is if you stay on track for everything.

Now for the reality of these times...they recommend 4 hours to do the visitors center and south loop, 3 hours for the north loop of Teddy Roosevelt Park (without stopping for any of the hiking trails). Driving between the 2 loops is 70 miles. This also means no time for Chateau de Mores, the little town of Medora nor the Teddy Roosevelt play. You can do this but you will exhausted of driving and rushed through everything.

I can%26#39;t compare the the two parks stuff as I%26#39;ve never done the SD stuff. I just saw the fondue and the musical and they were great. You can book just the musical tickets too and then hope there is room at the fondue since the musical doesn%26#39;t start until 8:30pm if you get in before 6:30pm. I have driven through both ND and SD badlands and the ND colors are much more vivid with a lot more reds in them and the buttes are more stark while the SD ones seem more rounded off (and I have heard others state this too). Typically in the summer I have seen more traffic in the SD ones than the ND ones but I have no clue if that was just the day I was there. Hope that helps a little at least!

I think that my post may have been a little confusing.

We are leaving Deadwood (I think I said Wall by mistake) the day before so we will be in Medora by 5-7pm on Monday night and stay there overnight. Not sure where to stay. We will not be doing the Musical. We will get up in the morning and spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours seeing the Theodore Roosevelt Park...we usually get up around 7am (although I get up by 5 or 6am), then head towards Mandan or Bismarck and either see the Native Museum in Bismarck or the Fort in Mandan and get something to eat there. Then driving back straight with just a small stop to MN. Mapquest says that it is a 5 hour drive to St. Cloud.

I appreciate any help that you give me. Have you ever done horseback riding in TR Park?

Afraid I%26#39;ve never ridden a horse anywhere. But its beautiful in the park so I%26#39;m sure it would be lovely. We stayed at a quaint little ranch on a gravel road last weekend there...they had horses and arranged trail rides. Depending on when you are going, get your reservation soon. That was essentially the last place left when I booked it and I did so several weeks in advance. Of course if you%26#39;re going during the week, that%26#39;s a different story. Deadwood is closer at least..only 3 1/2 hours to Medora. And yes straight through its a little over 5 hours to St Cloud from Bismarck. 2 hours 40 minutes to Fargo (and trust me I drive this all the time) and then about 2 1/2 to St Cloud from there.