Theodore Roosevelt National Park covers 70,447 acres in North Dakota. It became a national park on November 10, 1978, the 38th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 729,893 recreation visits in 2025, the 33rd most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Theodore Roosevelt
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for North Unit Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Valid for 7 days for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt: May, June and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 155,013 visits in a typical recent year. That is 2.9 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: January (1,702 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 12 hikes and 11 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 3 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to South Unit Visitor Center: Medora Convenience Store in Medora, 0.2 miles away. Closest airport Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (40 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike the Petrified Forest (2 to 10 Hours): The petrified forest trail is a remote and beautiful hike, leading to a dramatic landscape of petrified stumps and layered buttes.
- Hike Skyline Vista Trail (5 to 15 Minutes): Skyline Vista Trail is a great accessible introduction to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Visit the Elkhorn Ranch Unit (3 to 6 Hours): Visit the location of Theodore Roosevelt's home ranch, the Elkhorn, and experience the solitude of the North Dakota badlands.
- Hike Coal Vein Trail (30 to 45 Minutes): Take a hike on this 0.8-mile loop and learn about the geology of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Hike Wind Canyon Trail (5 to 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.
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Wind Cave (South Dakota): about 6 h by car (297 miles)
- Badlands (South Dakota): about 6 h 5 min by car (319 miles)
- Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho): about 7 h 50 min by car (456 miles)
- Glacier (Montana): about 10 h 35 min by car (568 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Valid for 7 days for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.
What state is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in?
North Dakota.
When did Theodore Roosevelt become a national park?
November 10, 1978.
How many people visit Theodore Roosevelt?
729,893 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt?
May, June and September. July is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
Nearby parks
South DakotaBadlands National Park
South Dakota. 1,139,361 visits in 2025. $30 per vehicle.
South DakotaWind Cave National Park
South Dakota. 606,258 visits in 2025. No entrance fee.
Wyoming, Montana and IdahoYellowstone National Park
Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. 4,762,988 visits in 2025. $35 per vehicle.