Best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt

How busy the park gets each month, what the weather is like, and the weeks to aim for or avoid.

By The Green Adventures · Updated Nov 1, 2026 · How we check

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.
Cold: average highs stay below 40°F in January, February and December.
Wettest month: June, with 3.1 inches on average.

JanVery quiet24°2°0.5 in
FebVery quiet30°6°0.4 in
MarVery quiet42°18°0.6 in
AprVery quiet56°30°1.2 in
MayModerate67°40°2.7 inBest
JunBusiest76°50°3.1 inBest
JulBusiest84°56°2.6 in
AugBusiest84°54°1.8 in
SepBusy74°43°1.6 inBest
OctQuiet57°31°1.3 in
NovVery quiet41°18°0.6 in
DecVery quiet28°6°0.6 in

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.

Month by month

Month	Crowds	Visits (typical)	High / low (°F)	Precipitation	Snow
January	Very quiet	1,702	24° / 2°	0.5 in	n/a
February	Very quiet	2,302	30° / 6°	0.4 in	n/a
March	Very quiet	8,101	42° / 18°	0.6 in	n/a
April	Very quiet	11,326	56° / 30°	1.2 in	n/a
May ★	Moderate	72,337	67° / 40°	2.7 in	n/a
June ★	Busiest	136,070	76° / 50°	3.1 in	n/a
July	Busiest	155,013	84° / 56°	2.6 in	n/a
August	Busiest	150,014	84° / 54°	1.8 in	n/a
September ★	Busy	115,686	74° / 43°	1.6 in	n/a
October	Quiet	53,340	57° / 31°	1.3 in	n/a
November	Very quiet	12,679	41° / 18°	0.6 in	n/a
December	Very quiet	1,774	28° / 6°	0.6 in	n/a

Weather figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Watford City 14S station (2,027 feet above sea level), 0 miles from North Unit Visitor Center. Visitor numbers are the median of 2022 to 2025 monthly recreation visits from the National Park Service.

By season

Spring (March to May): 13% of the year’s visits; average highs 42° to 67°F.
Summer (June to August): 61% of the year’s visits; average highs 76° to 84°F.
Fall (September to November): 25% of the year’s visits; average highs 41° to 74°F.
Winter (December to February): 1% of the year’s visits; average highs 24° to 30°F.

Weekends and holidays

Even in a quiet month, holiday weekends fill parking lots and campgrounds. The 2027 federal holidays to plan around:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
Presidents Day: Monday, February 15
Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19
Independence Day: Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
Labor Day: Monday, September 6
Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 11
Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25

Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the park service’s fee-free days. The last one in 2026 is Veterans Day, November 11; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Free days are often busier. See the crowd calendar for all 64 parks.

Weather, in the park service’s words

In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

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.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Theodore Roosevelt?

May, June and September. July is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.

What is the busiest month at Theodore Roosevelt?

July, with about 155,013 recreation visits in a typical recent year.

How crowded is Theodore Roosevelt in summer?

Summer brings 61% of the year’s visits; average highs 76° to 84°F.