Theodore Roosevelt National Park

🐴

Wild horses

South Unit only

💵

$30

Vehicle · 7 days

🦬

Free-roaming

Bison, both units

💧

Live

Little Missouri gauge

🏕

$10–$20

Campground/night

🗺️

3 units

North, South, Elkhorn Ranch

🦬Wildlife & Badlands SafetyBison, wild horses▾

🦬 Every animal here is wild and unpredictable — bison and wild horses can charge without warning, so keep at least 25 yards back. Rattlesnakes are present and can strike without notice. Badlands terrain hides real hazards: bentonite clay turns slick and nearly impassable when wet, and sinkholes or ravines "may not be noticeable until you're right on top of them." Summer heat tops 90°F with little shade, and weather can shift to sudden, violent storms. Ticks and poison ivy are common along trails, and backcountry water sources are limited. NPS safety info ↗

🎫Park Entrance & Fees3 units, 1 pass▾

🗺️ One entrance pass covers all three units: South Unit (near Medora, most visited, scenic loop road), North Unit (quieter, along the Little Missouri River), and Elkhorn Ranch (Roosevelt's former ranch site, undeveloped, no facilities). The park moved to cashless fee collection in 2026 — cards only. NPS fees info ↗

Fees

Vehicle (7-day)$30

Motorcycle$25

Individual (foot/bike)$15

Annual Pass$55

America the Beautiful passes honored

💧Little Missouri RiverLive USGS gauge▾

🏕CampingReservation required▾

📅 As of May 1, 2026, all camping at Cottonwood and Juniper requires an advance Recreation.gov reservation — the previous first-come, first-served system is gone. Cottonwood Campground and Roundup Group Horse Camp are closed June 28–July 10, 2026, for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library grand opening.

Cottonwood CampgroundSouth Unit▾

Fee$20/night peak, $10 off-season

NoteClosed Jun 28 – Jul 10, 2026

Juniper CampgroundNorth Unit▾

Fee$20/night peak, $10 off-season

Full camping details on NPS.gov ↗

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (701) 623-4466 · Mailing Address: 315 2nd Avenue, Medora, ND 58645 · Official NPS contact page ↗