Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Designation: National Park
Location: North Dakota
📘 Park Overview
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.
🌤 Weather Information
In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.
🚗 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.
Images
The River Bend Overlook offers one of the most popular views in the park's North Unit.
Credit: NPS Photo / Mark Meyers
The Maah Daah Hey Trail follows the Little Missouri River for several miles before it enters the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness.
Credit: NPS Photo / Laura Thomas
The Ekblom Trail is the gateway to the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness. All you have to do is make it across the river!
Credit: NPS Photo / Laura Thomas
In the summer, bull bison wage furious battles over the right to breed.
Credit: NPS Photo / Teresina Wheaten
Though light pollution in the area is increasing, the night sky over Theodore Roosevelt National Park remains beautiful and inspiring.
Credit: NPS Photo / Jeff Zylland
Bison roam the badlands from top to bottom, surprising visitors with their agility and ability to cross even the most rugged terrain.
Credit: NPS Photo / Roland and Lisa Honeyman
A short climb to the top of Buck Hill in the park's South Unit rewards hikers with a sweeping panorama and a fantastic place to watch the sun rise or set.
Credit: NPS Photo / Laura Thomas
The ghostly bugles of bull elk can be heard wafting through the badlands in the fall.
Credit: NPS Photo / Rolan and Lisa Honeyman
Theodore Roosevelt described the badlands as "so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to belong to this earth."
Credit: NPS Photo / Laura Thomas
Imagine waking up on a crisp winter morning in Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin. It is no wonder that his heart was captured by the romance of life in the West.
Credit: NPS Photo
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
Entrance Passes
3-Day Weather Forecast
Tuesday, Feb 3
Overcast
High: 48°F | Low: 28.9°F
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 16.1 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.3
Sunrise: 07:16 AM
Sunset: 04:59 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (99%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 31.8°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Feb 4
Partly Cloudy
High: 39.9°F | Low: 28.2°F
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 12.5 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.3
Sunrise: 07:15 AM
Sunset: 05:01 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (95%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 31.1°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Thursday, Feb 5
Overcast
High: 49.3°F | Low: 30.6°F
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 17 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.4
Sunrise: 07:13 AM
Sunset: 05:02 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (89%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 35°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (3)
Special Weather Statement issued February 3 at 4:00AM CST by NWS Bismarck ND
Effective: Feb 3, 2026 5:00am
Expires: Feb 3, 2026 7:45am
Areas of fog will reduce the visibility to as little as one
quarter mile across parts of western North Dakota through the
morning. Motorists should be prepared for rapidly changing
conditions and use extra caution traveling. Use low beam
headlights and be extra cautious at intersections and railroad
crossings. The fog may also deposit a thin layer of ice on
untreated surfaces. Conditions are expected to improve through the
morning.
Special Weather Statement issued February 2 at 10:46PM CST by NWS Bismarck ND
Effective: Feb 2, 2026 11:46pm
Expires: Feb 3, 2026 2:00am
Areas of fog will reduce the visibility to one quarter mile or
less across parts of western North Dakota late this evening
through tonight. At 1030 PM CST, the lowest visibilities were
located from around Williston to Dickinson. Motorists should be
prepared for rapidly changing conditions and use extra caution
traveling. Use low beam headlights and be extra cautious at
intersections and railroad crossings. The fog may also deposit a
thin layer of ice on untreated surfaces. Conditions are expected
to improve by late Tuesday morning.
Dense Fog Advisory issued February 3 at 1:05AM MST until February 3 at 10:00AM MST by NWS Glasgow MT
Effective: Feb 3, 2026 3:05am
Expires: Feb 3, 2026 12:00pm
* WHAT...Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.
* WHERE...Dawson, McCone, Prairie, Richland, and Wibaux Counties.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM MST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.
Frosty roads are expected which will make for slippery conditions.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There is a chance for freezing rain this
morning which could make roads icy.
Park Alerts
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
315 Second Avenue
Medora, ND 58645
🏤 Mailing Address:
PO Box 7
Medora, ND 58645
📞 Voice Phone: 7016234466
📞 Fax Phone: 7016234840
✉️ Email: thro_interpretation@nps.gov