Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Year Established: 1978
Annual Visitors: 796,000
Size: 70,446 Acres

State: North Dakota

Best Time to Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park

May to September

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

• Drive Scenic Loop
• Painted Canyon
• Oxbow Bend Overlook

A Brief History

The weather and wind have sculpted the sedimentary cliffs in this park into strange shapes. Even so, the park, through which the Little Missouri River flows, is not as harsh as it seems. It has prairies and wooded gullies, wildflowers and juniper patches, and bison, bighorn sheep, and elk live there.

Before becoming president in 1901, Theodore Roosevelt went to the Dakota Territory to “bag a buffalo.” He fell in love with this land, saying, “It was here that the romance of my life began.” He also said, “I would not have been President without what I learned in North Dakota.”

Roosevelt’s first home, the Maltese Cross Cabin, still stands here. In honor of Roosevelt, President Jimmy Carter made this the only park named after a person.

Theodore Roosevelt RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Theodore Roosevelt National Park or in North Dakota, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in North Dakota
• Best RV Resorts in North Dakota

Visitor Information

Fees

People who are 16 years old or younger can get in for free.

Weekly Park Passes

$15.00 per person/cyclist

When someone walks or rides a bike into the park they have to pay an entrance fee.

$30.00 per vehicle

$25.00 per motorcycle

Valid for up to 7 days

Annual Park Passes

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Annual Park Pass – $55

Contacting Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Phone Number

(701) 842-2333

Visitor Centers

North Unit Visitor Center

At the entrance to the park, there is a small visitor center for people going to the North Unit. Talk to a ranger to get help planning your trip, get a backcountry permit, buy a memento at the bookstore, or watch the park movie, Refuge of the American Spirit. There are bathrooms at this location.

South Unit Visitor Center

Rangers work at the desk, help people plan their trips, and give out backcountry permits. The Maltese Cross Cabin, built by Theodore Roosevelt, is right outside and can be toured on your own at any time of the year. In the summer, you can take a tour of a cabin led by a ranger. Refuge of the American Spirit, a movie about the park, is shown in the theater. A bookstore sells more than just books. There are things from Theodore Roosevelt’s time as president and in the badlands in a museum.

Painted Canyon Visitor Center

There are panoramic views, places to see wildlife, hiking trails, a staffed information desk, exhibits and displays, a gift shop, picnic shelters, a drinking fountain, vending machines, a public phone, and restrooms that are accessible by wheelchair.

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is the starting point for exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, which are a confusing network of mangrove islands and waterways that stretch from Flamingo Bay to Florida Bay and can only be reached by boat in this area. The visitor center has educational displays, orientation films, brochures with information, and permits for camping in the wilderness. The park’s authorized concessioner can give boat tours and rent out boats. Visit our Permitted Tours Page to find out about other businesses that are approved by the National Park Service to run tours in the Gulf Coast and Ten Thousand Islands area. Restrooms are available. Nearby are restaurants, stores, places to stay, and campgrounds.