Theodore Roosevelt National Park
4.8(8.8K)google
4.6(145)yelp
GeologyWildlife
Overview
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a national park of the United States in the badlands of western North Dakota. Comprising three geographically separated areas and the only American national park named after a single person, it pays homage to the time that President Theodore Roosevelt spent in the surrounding area and in the Dakota Territories before they were states. Roosevelt lived in the area after his mother and wife died hours apart on February 14, 1884.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration0.5-2 days
Best TimeMid-October for the golden autumn turns or clear summer mornings between 5:45 AM and 8:30 AM offer the ultimate experience. Heavy early morning valley fog frequently settles over the jagged, multi-colored badlands formations, creating an ethereal, wild backdrop for viewing roaming wild horse bands and massive bison herds.
Getting ThereSprawling across western North Dakota. The highly popular South Unit entrance sits directly in downtown Medora; take Interstate 94 to Exit 23 and drive straight to the grand stone entry pillars. The national park's main visitor center features an enormous, entirely free paved parking layout blocks from the loop drive.
Travel Tips
- Recreational drone operations are illegal across all park sectors; federal laws strictly prohibit collecting or removing petrified wood, minerals, or plant matter.
- Wild bison and elk maintain erratic, protective temperaments and require a minimum 25-yard safety radius; stay inside your vehicle if animals block the paved roadway.
- Remote backcountry trail loops are total cellular blindspots lacking any treatable water infrastructure; carrying four liters of potable water per person per day is mandatory.
Reviews
Positive
- ND's only National Park—a wild paradise! Driving through the sweeping badlands topography delivers pure, unhinged visual wonder.
- You can easily spot wild bison herds, bands of wild horses, and prairie dog towns roaming near the road, rendering incredible entertainment.
- Compared to Yellowstone, crowd density is very low without commercial noise, letting you savor serene silence among rock layers.
- Admission is charged per vehicle ($30 for 7 days), offering great value; campgrounds inside are well-maintained and orderly.
Heads up
- The South and North Units are separated by an hour-long drive across lonely highways, costing extra time for tight itineraries.
- Inside the park loops, there are zero stores, diners, or fuel gas stations; you must pack your own food and hydration bags.
- Some iconic rustic hiking singletracks become muddy and impassably slick after rain due to clay soil, lacking handrails.
- During winter blizzard seasons, sections of the steep scenic loop drive get heavily snowed under and barricaded for safety.