North Dakota · United States
Cycling in Medora
Best season: May–June, September–October
Medora is a tiny frontier-styled town with an outsized claim: it’s the services hub for the Maah Daah Hey Trail, 144 miles of continuous singletrack snaking through the Badlands and Little Missouri National Grasslands. This is one of America’s great backcountry mountain-bike routes — endless sculpted buttes, zero crowds, and the annual Maah Daah Hey 100 race to prove its credentials. Bikes aren’t allowed inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s backcountry, so riders detour around the park units on the Buffalo Gap Trail; easier days are had spinning the paved park roads of the South Unit, whose entrance sits at the edge of town.
You don’t need to trailer a bike across the prairie to ride here. Dakota Cyclery, the downtown shop that’s outfitted Maah Daah Hey riders since the 1990s, rents everything from full-suspension rigs to cruisers and runs the trailhead shuttles that make one-way rides possible. Vacation Medora rents Rad Power e-bikes daily from Boots Campground by the park entrance, and Iron Horse Rental Co. offers full-day e-bike hires near the river road.
Lodging leans seasonal and books out around the Medora Musical in summer. The Rough Riders Hotel — the historic flagship run by the same foundation whose trail guide points riders to Dakota Cyclery a couple of blocks away — is the comfortable in-town base; campground cabins put you closer to the trailheads.
Time it for late May–June or September–October: the Badlands are brutally hot and shadeless in midsummer, water sources are scarce enough that outfitters run cache drops, and the clay turns to unrideable gumbo after rain. Book shuttles and rentals ahead — this is a small town with a short season.
Weather in Medora
Live · NWSLoading current conditions…
Typical by month
avg high/low · 1991–2020 normals · MEDORA- Jan 28° 3° 0.3"
- Feb 32° 8° 0.4"
- Mar 44° 18° 0.6"
- Apr 56° 30° 1.6"
- May 67° 40° 2.6"
- Jun 77° 50° 2.9"
- Jul 86° 56° 2.1"
- Aug 85° 53° 1.4"
- Sep 74° 43° 1.4"
- Oct 58° 30° 1.2"
- Nov 42° 18° 0.6"
- Dec 31° 7° 0.6"
Bike-friendly hotels
We earn a commission if you book through the links below, at no extra cost to you. It's how this guide stays free.
Rough Riders Hotel
Historic flagship hotel in downtown Medora run by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, whose own Maah Daah Hey trail guide sends riders to Dakota Cyclery — the full-service rental and shuttle shop a couple of blocks away that the foundation originally invited to town.
Before you book: Confirm the front desk actively arranges Dakota Cyclery rentals/shuttles for guests, whether any guest discount or secure bike storage is offered, and the shop's operating season.
Bike program verified via source (2026-07-12)
Vacation Medora (Boots Campground Cabins & RV)
Cabins, vacation rentals, and RV/campsites at Boots Campground near the Theodore Roosevelt NP South Unit entrance, with Rad Power e-bikes rented on site daily 8am–8pm — guests staying at Boots or The Crossings campgrounds get a rental discount code.
Before you book: Confirm e-bike rental rates (not published online), the size of the guest discount, helmet policy, and the rental season.
Bike program verified via source (2026-07-12)
Where to rent or borrow a bike
Dakota Cyclery Mountain Bike Adventures
From $25/day
The Maah Daah Hey outfitter, in downtown Medora since 1994: full-suspension ($89 half-day) and hardtail MTBs, comfort/urban bikes from $25/day, kids' bikes and trailers, helmets included with mountain bikes; Aventon e-bikes expected June 2026, plus trailhead shuttles along all 144 miles.
Call ahead: Confirm season and daily hours, street address, waiver requirement, and e-bike availability; reserve with Visa/Mastercard at 701-220-4108.
Verified via source (2026-07-12)
Iron Horse Rental Co.
From $80/day
Full-day e-bike rentals ($80/person including helmet, printed ride guides, and child-seat options) starting from 3576 E River Rd S near the national park's south entrance.
Call ahead: Aggregator-sourced (ND Tourism/Yelp/Viator) — confirm hours, season, half-day rates, and waiver; no official website located.
Reported via source (2026-07-12)
Vacation Medora E-Bike Rentals
Rates by phone · waiver required
Rad Power e-bike fleet (Radster Trail, RadExpand 5+, RadWagon 5 cargo) rented from Boots Campground near the Theodore Roosevelt NP South Unit entrance; open 8am–8pm MT daily, 2-hour minimum, book online or at 701-501-3344.
Call ahead: Rates are not published online — confirm pricing, helmet policy, and the operating season.
Verified via source (2026-07-12)
Guided bike tours
Maah Daah Hey Supported Trips & Shuttles (Dakota Cyclery)
Dakota Cyclery Mountain Bike Adventures · from $350
Supported Maah Daah Hey packages out of Medora: a 2-day trip ($350 for 1–4 riders), the 4-day ~100-mile 'The Works' with gear-trailer support and water-cache drops ($2,000 for up to 4 riders), and one-way trailhead shuttles from $30.
Where these are on the map Medora
Hotels Rentals & loaners · 3 of this destination's listings located · © OpenStreetMap contributors