Theodore Roosevelt National Park
When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗Theodore Roosevelt National Park moves to cashless fee collection
Starting May 1, Theodore Roosevelt National Park will accept only credit cards, debit cards, or digital payments for entrance fees, campground fees, and Interagency Passes. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.
- InformationSouth Unit Address for Mobile Maps – Theodore Roosevelt NP
On all maps used on mobile devices, use the following address to reach the South Unit Visitor Center and Entrance Station 201 East River Road N. Medora, ND 58645
- InformationNPS ↗Petrified Forest Trailhead Access Update: Use Approved Route
Directions to the Petrified Forest trailhead have changed. Please use the approved legal route from I-94, Exit 10 toward Camels Hump Lake and follow the clearly marked posts. This update helps maintain good cooperation with neighbors and respect park boundaries. For precise directions, use the link provided.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBear
36 mi from the park's reference point · 10 acres
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleValid for 7 days for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $25 | |
| Per PersonValid for 7 days for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, horse, or other non-motorized means of travel. | $15 | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| VanBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $50 | |
| Mini-busBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $60 | |
| Motor CoachBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. | $150 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThe Theodore Roosevelt National Park Annual Park Pass is valid for one year from month of purchase. The pass admits the purchaser and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder and his/her immediate family (spouse, children, parents) when entry is by other means (foot, bicycle). | $55 | |
Beginning May 1, 2026 Theodore Roosevelt National Park transitioned to a fully cashless fee system and will accept only electronic card payments for entrance fees. An entrance fee is required to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park year-around. Fees are collected at entrance stations May through September and in visitor centers the rest of the year. The park does not issue timed entry permits.
Hours
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | Daily · All Day |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and December the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Cottonwood Campground | 72 sites | |
| $20 a night · Cottonwood Campground is open year-round. Check out time is noon. Check in any time (self-registration kiosk). | ||
| Juniper Campground | 48 sites | |
| $20 a night · Juniper Campground is open year-round except the group site which is open May through September. Check out time is noon. | ||
| Roundup Group Horse Camp | 1 site | |
| $70 a night · Closed Nov 1 to Apr 30 · 1 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- North Unit Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
A small visitor center is located at the park entrance for visitors to the North Unit. Speak with a ranger, receive assistance with any trip planning needs, obtain a backcountry permit, purchase a souvenir at the bookstore, or watch the park film, Refuge of the American Spirit.
- South Unit Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Rangers staff the desk, assist visitors with trip planning, and issue backcountry permits. Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin, located just outside, is open for self-guided tours year-round. Ranger-led cabin tours are offered in the summer.
- Painted Canyon Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Features: Panoramic views, wildlife viewing, hiking trails, staffed information desk, exhibits and displays, gift shop, picnic shelters, drinking fountain, vending machines, public telephone, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Explore
Things to do
- Hike the Petrified Forest2-10 Hours
The petrified forest trail is a remote and beautiful hike, leading to a dramatic landscape of petrified stumps and layered buttes.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Skyline Vista Trail5-15 Minutes
Skyline Vista Trail is a great accessible introduction to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Birding in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The badlands of North Dakota are home to more than 180 species of birds. Take a moment and see which ones you can spot!
Opens on the Park Service site - Wildlife Viewing - South Unit
Explore the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there.
Opens on the Park Service site - Wildlife Viewing - North Unit
Explore the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Elkhorn Ranch Unit3-6 Hours
Visit the location of Theodore Roosevelt's home ranch, the Elkhorn, and experience the solitude of the North Dakota badlands.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Hike Coal Vein Trail30-45 Minutes
Take a hike on this 0.8-mile loop and learn about the geology of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Wind Canyon Trail5-30 Minutes
Wind Canyon trail is a short, moderate-difficulty trail that rewards hikers with incredible views of the Little Missouri river and the surrounding badlands.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Boicourt Trail15-30 Minutes
This short hike, with its elevated perspective and accessible trail, offers a unique view of the Little Missouri Badlands that the whole family can enjoy.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin5-20 Minutes
The Maltese Cross Cabin was Theodore Roosevelt's first home in Dakota territory. Step inside and learn about how he lived during his time in the badlands where the romance of his life began.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike The Little Mo Nature Trail30-45 Minutes
Take a short hike along the Little Mo Nature Trail and learn about the nature and geology of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
Opens on the Park Service site - Watch the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Film: Refuge of the American Spirit17 Minutes
Visit one of the visitor centers and watch the Theodore Roosevelt National Park film, Refuge of the American Spirit.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Theodore Roosevelt. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for Theodore Roosevelt National Park and North Dakota
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- 2017 Guide to the Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National ParkNorth Dakota Badlands, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Local history books for Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthAmerican Bison 3× · Sharp-tailed Grouse 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 161 birds, 50 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barred Owl · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Snowy Owl · Swainson's hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican White Pelican · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Double-crested Cormorant · Great Blue Heron · Green-winged Teal · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Sandhill Crane · Snow Goose · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsHerring Gull · Killdeer · Lesser Yellowlegs · Long-billed Curlew · Spotted Sandpiper · Upland Sandpiper · Wilson's Phalarope
Gamebirds & dovesMourning Dove · Ring-necked Pheasant · Rock Pigeon · Sharp-tailed Grouse · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-headed Woodpecker
Hummingbirds & swiftsRuby-throated Hummingbird
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baird's Sparrow · Bank Swallow · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-billed Magpie · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Blue Grosbeak · Blue Jay · Bobolink · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Cassin's Finch · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-collared Longspur · Chipping Sparrow · Clay-colored Sparrow · Cliff Swallow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Redpoll · Common Yellowthroat · Dark-eyed Junco · Dickcissel · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Kingbird · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Gadwall · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Gray Partridge · Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch · Harris's Sparrow · Hoary Redpoll · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Lapland Longspur · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Mourning Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Shrike · Northern Waterthrush · Orange-crowned Warbler · Orchard Oriole · Ovenbird · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Plumbeous Vireo · Purple Finch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Pheobe · Snow Bunting · Song Sparrow · Spotted Towhee · Sprague's Pipit · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Tree Swallow · Tufted Titmouse · Veery · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Warbling Vireo · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Wilson's Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler · Yellow-throated Vireo
Small mammalsBEAVER · BLACK-TAIL PRAIRIE DOG · BUSHY-TAILED WOODRAT · COTTONTAIL · DEER MOUSE · EASTERN COTTONTAIL · FOX SQUIRREL · FRANKLIN GROUND SQUIRREL · HOUSE MOUSE · JACK RABBIT · LEAST CHIPMUNK · MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE · MEADOW VOLE · MUSKRAT · NORTHERN GRASSHOPPER MOUSE · NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER · NUTTALL'S COTTONTAIL · OLIVE-BACKED POCKET MOUSE · PORCUPINE · PRAIRIE VOLE · THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL · WESTERN HARVEST MOUSE · WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE
PredatorsBADGER · BOBCAT · COYOTE · LEAST WEASEL · LONGTAIL WEASEL · MINK · RACCOON · RED FOX · STRIPED SKUNK
Hoofed mammalsAmerican Bison · ELK · FERAL HORSE · MOOSE · MULE DEER · PRONGHORN ANTELOPE · WHITE-TAIL DEER · bighorn sheep
BatsBIG BROWN BAT · HOARY BAT · LITTLE BROWN MYOTIS · LONG-EARED MYOTIS · LONG-LEGGED MYOTIS · Northern Bat · SILVER-HAIRED BAT · Small-footed Myotis
Also on the checklistCatamount · DOMESTIC CATTLE/LONGHORN
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Theodore Roosevelt?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Valid for 7 days for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Theodore Roosevelt?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Theodore Roosevelt-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Theodore Roosevelt takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Theodore Roosevelt free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Theodore Roosevelt?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Theodore Roosevelt. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Theodore Roosevelt open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Theodore Roosevelt?
Yes. The Park Service lists 3 campgrounds in Theodore Roosevelt: Cottonwood, Juniper, and Roundup Group Horse Camp. 3 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Theodore Roosevelt campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Dump station: Juniper.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Theodore Roosevelt include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Cottonwood is $20 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
When do Theodore Roosevelt campgrounds close for the season?
Roundup Group Horse Camp is closed Nov 1 to Apr 30.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Theodore Roosevelt right now?
3 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Theodore Roosevelt National Park moves to cashless fee collection; South Unit Address for Mobile Maps – Theodore Roosevelt NP; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Theodore Roosevelt?
729,893 recreation visits in 2025, number 93 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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