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Activity South Unit, Medora

South Unit Scenic Loop Drive

An activity in South Unit, Medora, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Early morning.

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South Unit Scenic Loop Drive in South Unit, Medora
Photo: NPS/Mark Hoffman · Public domain

Why go

Paved drive through badlands with bison, wild horses and prairie dog towns.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Medora, alongside 3 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Buck Hill, 2.0 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Activity · Nature
Neighborhood
South Unit
Price
$
Time needed
2.5 hr
Best time
Early morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Medora, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Buck Hill

    One of the highest points in the South Unit with a short paved walk to 360-degree views.

    Sight · 2.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Painted Canyon Overlook

    Wide overlook of layered badlands just off I-90, often with bison below.

    Sight · 3.5 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Wind Canyon Trail

    Short 0.4-mile trail to a bluff above the Little Missouri River with wind-carved sandstone.

    Activity · 4.6 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Theodore's Dining Room

    Dining room in the restored Rough Riders Hotel, the best sit-down meal in town.

    Food · 4.6 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Little Missouri Saloon

    Western saloon in downtown Medora with a casual bar and grill.

    Drinks · 4.7 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Visitor Center

    Exhibits on Roosevelt's ranching years plus his restored Maltese Cross Cabin.

    Sight · 4.7 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

South Unit Scenic Loop Drive is a stop on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More things to do in Medora

Another curated activity in Medora. See the full Medora guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Medora run from 29°F in January to 89°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For South Unit Scenic Loop Drive itself, we suggest: Early morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Medora from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Medora weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for South Unit Scenic Loop Drive, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Scenic Loop Dr, North Billings, ND, USA
Coordinates
46.93397, -103.43075
Destination
Medora, North Dakota

South Unit Scenic Loop Drive: quick answers

How much time do you need at South Unit Scenic Loop Drive?

Plan on about 2.5 hours at South Unit Scenic Loop Drive. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit South Unit Scenic Loop Drive?

Our pick: Early morning. Insider tip: Parts of the loop have been closed for repairs; check NPS road status.

Where is South Unit Scenic Loop Drive?

South Unit Scenic Loop Drive is at Scenic Loop Dr, North Billings, ND, USA, in South Unit. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include South Unit Scenic Loop Drive?

South Unit Scenic Loop Drive appears on Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add South Unit Scenic Loop Drive to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Medora.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.