Theodore Roosevelt National Park was founded in 1978, and it is not one block of land but three separate units: the South Unit, the North Unit and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
The South Unit starts right at the town of Medora. Its museum and Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin are open during visitor center hours, and at Painted Canyon Visitor Center, a highway stop in the South Unit, a nature trail and a picnic pavilion give travellers a break. The North Unit and the South Unit keep different clocks: North Unit program times are listed in Central Time and South Unit programs in Mountain Time, which matters if you drive between them for a ranger program. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit has no visitor center, facilities or scenic roads; a mowed path leads from the parking area to the cabin site.
The trade-off is self-sufficiency. There are no restaurants, lodging or services anywhere in the park and no public transport, so the car carries the day: food, water and everything else come in with you, and Medora is the place to stock up.
Family FAQ
How much does Theodore Roosevelt National Park cost?
$30 per private vehicle or $15 per person on foot or by bike, each valid for 7 days in all units.
What are the opening hours of Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
The park never closes; you can enter and leave at any time.
Is there parking at Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
In the Elkhorn Ranch Unit, a 0.7-mile mowed path leads from the parking area to the cabin site.
