Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND

Next, we drove from Chicago to North Dakota, where we were staying at our first campsite. The journey took us through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and finally North Dakota, spanning approximately 800 miles and taking around 14 hours. Driving through Minnesota was particularly enjoyable because it truly lived up to its nickname, “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” with beautiful water views at every turn. We drove through the night, taking turns behind the wheel, but sadly, since it was dark, I didn’t get to see much of the landscape of Wisconsin or Indiana. Sadly I also found out that Hawkins, Indiana is indeed made up.

Once we arrived in North Dakota, we headed to a small town called Medora, which is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This was only my second-ever national park and my first one outside of Virginia! Our first stop was the Painted Canyon Visitor Center, where we looked out over the Badlands. Badlands are formed by the erosion of soft sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils over time, resulting in steep slopes, sharp ridges, and intricate formations.

After that, we went to the south side of the park where our campsite was located. We stopped at a lookout and I got to see my first prairie dogs and bison, which might be two of my new favorite animals. Did you know that prairie dogs are highly social animals that live in large colonies and communicate with a complex system of vocalizations? And bison are the largest land animals in North America and play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the prairie ecosystem.

Once we arrived at the campsite, we set up our tent and then drove to the northern part of the park to do a hike. We tackled the Caprock Coulee Loop, a 4.3-mile trail that features diverse landscapes, including rugged badlands terrain, grassy coulees, and scenic overlooks. During our hike, we saw a whole herd of bison, which was an incredible sight. It was one of my favorite parts! 

After our hike, we went into town and got dinner at the local saloon before heading back to our tent to sleep. We woke up early the next morning to get another hike in before we had to hit the road again. This time, we hiked the Ekblom Trail, a shorter trail known for its scenic views and peaceful atmosphere. Although we couldn’t complete the entire trail because our path was covered by the river, we enjoyed spending extra time by the water.

On our way back, we were greeted by two bison enjoying the hike too. We had to do some off-roading to get back to the car to give the bison some much-needed space. After that, we packed up and hit the road again, ready for the next leg of our adventure.