North Dakota Badlands among National Geographic’s best places to visit in the world in 2026

National Geographic highlighted the North Dakota Badlands as one of its 25 “Best of the World” must-visit destinations in 2026. Picked for their stunning scenery, adventurous excursions and rich history, the list also includes Québec, Canada; Beijing, China; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to name a few.

The magazine says travelers should visit the Badlands for its "otherworldly landscape” that stretches on “seemingly forever.” It suggests visiting the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which opens July 4, 2026, and is located just outside of Medora, North Dakota, as well as the Three Affiliated Tribes National Park, which is adjacent to the Fort Berthold Reservation. The park is run by the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and not yet fully open to the public.