Destination 01
Medora
South Unit scenic drive
Badlands overlooks and frequent bison sightings
nature
Painted Canyon
Layered North Dakota badlands from an easy overlook
sight
Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills
Wildlife drives, painted canyons & granite peaks
Route preview
7 days through Medora, Black Hills, Badlands National Park.
Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills is a 7-day curated route with 3 destinations and 8 suggested stops. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.
-
12 stops
-
23 stops
Destination 02
Black Hills
Needles Highway
Granite tunnels and tight curves through Custer State Park
adventure
Sylvan Lake
An easy lakeshore loop between dramatic rock formations
nature
Wildlife Loop Road
A scenic Custer State Park drive known for bison and prairie views
nature
-
33 stops
Destination 03
Badlands National Park
Badlands Loop Road
A compact drive through spires, prairie, and big-sky pullouts
nature
Notch Trail
A short, adventurous climb to a White River Valley view
adventure
Pinnacles Overlook
Layered Badlands views that are especially strong near sunset
nature
Route highlights
The moments that shape this trip.
- 01Theodore Roosevelt NP
- 02Badlands Loop
- 03Needles Highway
- 04Bison country
Trip guide
Planning Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills.
Big skies and wildlife set the pace on this route across the northern plains. It begins in Medora, North Dakota, where the South Unit scenic drive and Painted Canyon show off layered badlands and, often, bison. You then cross into South Dakota for Badlands National Park, with Badlands Loop Road and the short Notch Trail. The finish is the Black Hills, where Needles Highway threads through granite and Sylvan Lake offers an easy loop at the end.
Good for Road-trippers chasing wildlife and open landscapes
When to go
May through September is when roads, parks and services are most reliably open. Early summer brings green prairie and wildflowers, while midsummer is warm and busy. Shoulder months can be quieter but weather swings quickly out here, so check road and park conditions as you go.
Getting around
A car is essential. Distances between Medora, the Badlands and the Black Hills are long, with sparse services in between. Most travelers fly into a regional airport, rent a vehicle and plan on full driving days between the main stops.
Tips for your crew
- Fuel up and carry water before long open stretches. Services thin out between the parks, and phone coverage can be patchy.
- Slow down on park roads for wildlife. Bison and other animals appear without warning, and groups should keep a safe distance and stay in the vehicle.
- Give Needles Highway extra time. It is narrow and twisty, with tunnels, so it is best driven early or late and not in a rush.
