Day 12: Medora, ND - Lewistown, MT

Medora is at the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt Nations Park. We were able to spend an hour or so in the park on a driving trail and on a short hike. The country there is considered “bad lands”, but we thought the badlands in Badlands National Park in South Dakota were better (or maybe “badder” badlands). After that we pushed into Montana and got off I-94 and onto MT 200. MT200 was like a Texas farm to market road, a little rough and mostly no shoulder. The countryside was beautiful, mostly rolling and green. Rangeland, but few cattle to be seen. Towns were few.

The Little Missouri River in Theodore Roosevelt NP

Prairie dogs were one of the main occupants of Teddy Roosevelt NP. They were everywhere and were fun to watch.

We wouldn’t stay at a place like this, but with the prices we saw up ahead in Montana, we thought we might have to!

Historically on these trips we might book a place to stay in the afternoon of that day, once we know how far we will go. But in the summer of 2021, with everyone seeing the USA post pandemic, we had to book ahead a bit.

We stopped for a picnic lunch in this sort of sad little park in Circle, MT, which turned out to be a good stop. We carry cheese, crackers, chicken salad, etc. to avoid eating out all the time.

This was my view from our lunch picnic table in Circle. After looking at it for a while, I decided it needed a photograph. I wish I made the trees a little sharper.

It wasn’t open, but looked like it was a working station.

Middle of nowhere in central MT.

As we close in on July 4th, Montana is loaded with fireworks stands.

Small central Montana town.

In Lewistown we stayed at the Judith Mountain Lodge. It was outside of town and located in the piny hills you see in the top right here. It was a great place to stay and windows open cool at night. Great visit around the campfire with some of the other guests and our great host Charae. Charae was from New Orleans. She was full of those New Orleans expressions and the personality of those south Louisiana natives.