What town is near Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

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 primary gateway town for Theodore Roosevelt National Park is Medora, North Dakota. This historic, Western-themed town is located directly at the entrance to the park's South Unit and serves as the hub for most visitors. In 2026, Medora remains a vibrant tourist destination, famous for the "Medora Musical," a high-energy outdoor variety show performed in the Burning Hills Amphitheatre overlooking the Badlands. The town is also home to the Rough Riders Hotel and the future site of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. For those visiting the park's North Unit, the town of Watford City is the closest major community, located about 15 miles to the north. While Medora is small, with a permanent population of around 150 people, it swells with thousands of visitors during the summer months who come to experience the rugged beauty of the North Dakota Badlands and the legacy of the 26th President. The town's wooden boardwalks and historic buildings perfectly complement the natural, wild landscape of the surrounding national park.

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I had low expectations for this park but it now lists up decently high on the national parks I've gone to. The rolling hills with prairie grass are very pretty. The bison, prairie dogs, and turkeys all make the place special. It is not crowded at all making it such a peaceful place to be.

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No lodging is available inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Lodging is available adjacent to the South Unit in Medora, ND, and in the nearby communities of Beach (25 miles), Belfield (15 miles), and Dickinson, ND (35 miles).

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The park is open year-round, but for wildlife viewing, hiking, and camping, we think the best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park is from late May through June.

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An entrance fee is required to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park year-around.

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The prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is the only venomous reptile in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and they are not as common as they were in Theodore Roosevelt's time. They have more reason to fear us than we do them. The rattlesnake will ignore or avoid humans unless surprised or provoked.

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At 1 ½ miles, this loop trail is the island's longest. It passes through swampy woods and cattail marsh. The trail is part pea gravel and part boardwalk. This short, ? mile trail passes through the heart of the island, including the memorial plaza with its statue and fountains.

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The park is an excellent place to watch meteor showers. Occasionally, the Northern Lights or aurora borealis, may be visible, adding startling color and movement to the night sky. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a great place to view the night sky, but, like other areas, there are threats to its relative darkness.

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Since the park is in the southern half of the state, seeing the northern lights is not a guarantee every night. It'll take a significant solar event to produce the aurora here, but when it does happen, you'll have big skies for an opportunity to see the show.

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Enjoy the Views along Scenic Drive This road twists and turns through the badlands, going past overlooks and next to prairie dog towns. Along Scenic Drive, there is a very good chance that you will see bison. Also keep a look out for mule deer, prairie dogs, pronghorns, coyotes, and golden eagles.

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The North Unit is our favorite part of the park. The views of the badlands and the Little Missouri River are spectacular, the Caprock Coulee Trail is tons of fun to hike, and this unit tends to be a bit less crowded than the South Unit.

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