Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Medora in January
This is the coldest month in Medora: highs average 29°F (-1°C) and lows 13°F (-11°C), with about 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain or snow.
With a comfort score of 49/100 (10th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 29°F (-1°C)
- Avg low
- 13°F (-11°C)
- Rain or snow
- 0.4 in (11 mm)
- Humidity
- 81%
- Cloud cover
- 64%
- Daylight
- ~8 h 43 min
- Comfort score
- 49/100 · Fair
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 29°F (-1°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 13°F (-11°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, about 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain or snow, and since the average temperature is below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Only about 8 h 43 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are May & June and August & September.
- Comfort holds steady from December (48 → 49/100).
- Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 13°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Comfortable walking shoesmost picks involve some walking
What to do in Medora in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Theodore's Dining Room
Dining room in the restored Rough Riders Hotel, the best sit-down meal in town.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 29°F.
Little Missouri Saloon
Western saloon in downtown Medora with a casual bar and grill.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Pitchfork Steak Fondue
Steaks speared on pitchforks and cooked in oil on a bluff above town.
Why now A cozy break on a 29°F day.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Visitor Center
Exhibits on Roosevelt's ranching years plus his restored Maltese Cross Cabin.
Wind Canyon Trail
Short 0.4-mile trail to a bluff above the Little Missouri River with wind-carved sandstone.
Nearby in January
- Black Hills in January~217 mi · highs 32°F, 0.5 in rain or snow · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Badlands National Park in January~219 mi · highs 37°F, 0.3 in rain or snow · 4°C (7°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Medora in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Medora?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 49/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are May & June and August & September. Expect highs of 29°F (-1°C) and 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain or snow. Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Medora in January?
Average highs are 29°F (-1°C) and average lows 13°F (-11°C), making it the coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Medora in January?
Not much: about 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 2nd-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 16.6 in (422 mm).
What should I pack for Medora in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 13°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible) and comfortable walking shoes (most picks involve some walking).
Planning Medora in January?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.