Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Show on map (701) 623-4466 thro_interpretation@nps.gov

PO Box 7
Medora, ND 58645

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.

Directions

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in the Badlands of western North Dakota. There are three units to the park. The South Unit entrance is in the town of Medora, ND off of Interstate 94 exits 24 and 27. The North Unit entrance is on Highway 85 approximately 14 miles south of Watford City, ND. The remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit sits roughly in the middle of the North and South Units and is accessed via gravel roads. Consult park staff for directions to the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.

Reviews

Theodore Roosevelt National Park campgrounds are praised for their peaceful, scenic settings with abundant wildlife sightings including bison and wild horses. Campsites are generally spacious and private, featuring clean, well-maintained restrooms with flush toilets. Helpful and friendly camp hosts and park rangers enhance the experience. Access to hiking trails and natural views is convenient. However, amenities are limited with no showers, dump stations, or electricity at many sites. Some challenges include reservation difficulties due to no cell service, occasional noise from generators or neighbors, muddy or uneven sites, confusing campground layouts, and limited water availability early in the season.

Beautiful and peaceful campground setting

Clean and modern restroom facilities

Friendly and helpful camp hosts and park rangers

Plenty of wildlife sightings (bison, wild horses, birds)

Spacious and private campsites with great views

Lack of showers at many campgrounds

No dump stations available

Some campsites small, tight, or uneven

Bug presence (biting flies, mosquitoes)

Confusing campground layout and limited accessibility at some sites

1,126 reviews

5 stars

746

4 stars

262

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Robert R

Campground:Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Loop:North Loop

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

The staff at the visitor center was very helpful in directing us on a great hike. The flush toilets were closed down for the season. Which is understandable, but the vault toilet was exceedingly foul smelling. Bad

Nathan S

Campground:Roundup Group Horse Camp

Loop:South Unit

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

No water was available at the camp. Called the Park Office a month before the reservation, to ask if water could still be on (especially since I was paying full rate price for the reservation), or if there were other sources of water in the Park. Park staff told me "no", "no", "no", "no" and "no" - can't turn the water on; won't deliver water to the camp; can't use its water at the visitor center or at headquarters or at the maintenance garage. Their action verbs were "can't", "won't", "don't" and "I don't want to." Very unhelpful. They tried to deflect the issue by telling me to call private businesses to see if I could buy water from them (all of whom were closed for the season). Had to do a lot of investigating to find other private alternative sources for water. No thanks to the Park's staff.

kathy h

Campground:Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Loop:North Loop

Site:

Reviewed 11 days ago

Very nice and well kept. Enjoyed our short stay! Pull through site was nice!

kathy h

Campground:Juniper Campground (ND)

Loop:Juniper Campground

Site:

Reviewed 11 days ago

Nice, well kept, quiet campground. We enjoyed our short stay! Pull through site was nice!

Sarah B

Campground:Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Loop:North Loop

Site:

Reviewed 12 days ago

We loved the setting and the beautiful views from the campground. We were dismayed by the lack of support. We found our reserved campsite occupied when we arrived. The owner of the trailer that was parked there was gone with his pickup truck. There was no host or ranger available to sort out the situation, and the visitors center several miles away was closed for the day. We wound up sharing the site that we had paid for with the people who were there since they admitted they misunderstood their reservation. There didn't seem to be any other option. In addition, the toilet houses that were closest to our site were both shut down. This was not noted on our reservation. There were two stalls available in one toilet house for the entire campground. Needless to say, lines formed.

David L

Campground:Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Loop:North Loop

Site:

Reviewed 14 days ago

Keep your options open

Watch for a matching campsite across monitored campgrounds in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.