7 Highlights of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt came to the Dakota badlands in 1883 to hunt bison and left, years later, with the convictions that shaped his conservation presidency. The national park that now bears his name is still one of the least crowded in the system, split into three units along the Little Missouri River. Here are seven highlights worth planning around, drawn from official NPS pages last reviewed in 2026.

There are no restaurants or lodging inside the park. Medora sits at the South Unit entrance; Dickinson is about 35 miles east and has the fullest set of services. Seek N-Dakota is the place to look up rooms, supper, and gas before you lose cell coverage in a coulee.

1. The 36-mile South Unit scenic drive

This is the park's signature outing. The South Unit loop is a two-way paved road open to cars and bikes, with overlooks and trailheads the whole way around. The Park Service says to plan at least two hours, longer if bison are on the pavement — and they often are. The loop starts in Medora. In winter, sections can close for snow and ice, so check current conditions before you count on a full circuit.

2. Painted Canyon, the I-94 overlook

Travelers who only have a rest-area window should still stop at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center. A sidewalk traces the rim, there is a short nature trail and a picnic shelter, and bison wander through often enough that the Park Service warns you to give them room. Painted Canyon is not a park entrance. The scenic drive begins seven miles west, in Medora.

3. Short trails with outsized views

You do not need a backcountry permit to see the South Unit well. Favorites on the official unit page include Wind Canyon (0.4 mile) and Buck Hill (0.1 mile), the latter a short climb with a wide sunrise and sunset panorama. Coal Vein Trail is 0.8 mile. The Ridgeline Nature Trail was listed as inaccessible because of a road collapse on the South Unit page updated May 17, 2026 — confirm trail status at the visitor center rather than trusting an old map. Overnight backcountry trips require a free permit.

4. The North Unit's quieter overlooks

If the South Unit is the postcard, the North Unit is the wilderness chapter. North Dakota Tourism describes a 14-mile scenic drive with interpretive pullouts, a prairie dog town, Oxbow Overlook, and the Edge of Glacier pullout. The River Bend Overlook is among the most photographed views in the park. The North Unit entrance is about 15 minutes south of Watford City. It is a separate drive from Medora, not a quick side loop, so budget a half day or stay overnight on the north side.

5. Wildlife, from the road and the trail

Wildlife viewing is one of the park's real advantages. In the South Unit, bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, and horses are commonly seen from the scenic drive. Also watch for coyotes, pronghorn, eagles, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and elk — the Park Service notes that bull elk can be heard bugling in the fall. Keep a safe distance, stay in the vehicle if a herd is on the road, and never approach calves or stallions for a photograph.

6. Elkhorn Ranch and the Maltese Cross Cabin

The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is the secluded site of Roosevelt's "home ranch." Foundation stones are what remain; the roads in are unpaved and can need high clearance. It is a place for quiet, not for services. In Medora, the South Unit Visitor Center museum and Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin are open during visitor center hours and are the better first stop if you want the history before the long drive to Elkhorn.

7. Medora just outside the gate

Use the town as your camp. The visitor center, park film, and cabin are there; so are lodging, dining, and limited groceries, with thinner hours in winter. Belfield (15 miles east) and Beach (25 miles west) have basic services. For a fuller grocery run, hospital access, or a wider dinner list, go to Dickinson. In summer, pair the park with the Medora Musical; year-round, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which opened July 4, 2026, is now a short hop from the entrance. Confirm library hours on its visit page.

Pro tip: Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit is primitive (no RV hookups), open year-round, and reservation-only at Recreation.gov. It fills every night in summer. Juniper Campground serves the North Unit; check the park site for the current reservation rules.

Fees and practicalities

An entrance fee is required year-round. As listed on the official fees page, a private-vehicle pass is $30 for seven days, a motorcycle pass is $25, and a per-person pass (foot, bicycle, or horse, ages 16+) is $15. A park-specific annual pass is $55. America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Since May 1, 2026, the park has been cashless for entrance fees; digital passes can be bought on Recreation.gov. Fees are collected at entrance stations May through September and in visitor centers the rest of the year. There are no timed-entry permits.

Free entrance days in 2026 include October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday, along with the other national fee-free dates on the NPS calendar — useful if you are building a late-October trip.

Before you go, read current alerts and hours and pack water, layers, and a paper map. Then look up a Medora or Watford City stay on Seek N-Dakota, and claim your listing if you are the one renting the rooms or running the cafe at the gate.

Cover photo: National Park Service / Gary Anderson, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.