Watford City to Dickinson Drive Guide: Scenic Stops & Facts

This 60-mile stretch of US-85 cuts through the heart of Theodore Roosevelt's rugged badlands, where volcanic ash layers and coal seams tell a 60-million-year story. The route connects two oil-boom towns, but it's the geology and ghosts of the Old West that dominate the horizon.

Drivers pass the only national park in North Dakota named after a president, then the ranch where he once herded cattle. The drive's quickest at 1 hour 11 minutes without stops, but add at least 15 minutes for photo ops at the scenic overlooks.

Summer thunderstorms produce blinding rain and sudden hail, while winter blizzards can close the highway for hours. Always carry water and blankets; the average annual snowfall is 30 inches in this corridor.

The scenic drives along the Little Missouri River are wheelchair accessible, but unpaved trails are not. For families, the Prairie Dog Town boardwalk at the park's south unit has level walking and interpretive signs children can read.

Pets are allowed on park trails and at the picnic areas, but must be on a leash under 6 feet; the only fenced dog park is in Dickinson's Jaycee Park. For tired drivers, the Painted Canyon and Boicourt Overlook rest areas have picnic tables, but no shade.

To avoid fatigue, plan stops at natural intervals: Medora's historic district is a pleasant hour-long break, and the North Dakota Tourist Information Center in Dickinson is a staffed rest stop with free maps. For more trip-planning strategies, see how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

The badlands here are a painter's palette of clays, with the Painted Canyon Overlook offering a three-state view on clear days. Bison roam the park's south unit, but they're absent north of the Little Missouri River.

Medora, a 19th-century railroad town, preserves the only surviving structure from the area's cattle boom: the de Mores Chateau. Nearby, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Dickinson curates artifacts from the ranching era.

Local commerce thrives on tourism and oil: Watford City's Rough Rider Center hosts a bustling farmers' market every Saturday from June to September. Dickinson's downtown Main Street boasts a microbrewery and coffee roastery, but both close by 5 PM on weekends.

US-85 is the only highway connecting the two cities, a divided four-lane for the first 20 miles that narrows to a two-lane with frequent passing lanes. The speed limit drops from 65 to 55 mph through the park entrance, so watch for subtle signage.

Fuel stations cluster at the route's endpoints; the 35-mile stretch between Watford City and the park has none. The Love's in Watford (open 24/7) and Cenex in Dickinson offer diesel, but the only mid-route pump is at the Rough Rider Hotel in Medora, 7 miles off the highway.

• Cell coverage is spotty; download offline maps before leaving.
• Construction and oil trucks can cause delays; check ND Roads app for real-time closures.
• One rest area at mile 10 with picnic tables but no water or restrooms.