Theodore Roosevelt National Park: An Overview

In this video we want to talk with you about the units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park is in Medora, North Dakota. This park has a north unit and a south unit, both with a campground. Additionally, is the Elkhorn Ranch Unit, where Roosevelt selected to be his home ranch. It is extremely remote on an unpaved road. The last three miles on the way to Elkhorn Ranch Unit may require 4 wheel drive and a high clearance vehicle, especially during the winter snows or during or after rain showers. It is best to stop at a visitors center and ask about the road before you start out to Elkhorn Ranch Unit where there is no cell service. Roosevelt's ranch house has been moved to the South Unit. Another part of the park is a freeway rest area. It is the Painted Canyon Visitors Center. It is like any other rest area except it is manned by National Park Service employees and it has a small store with National Park Service goods. The rest area is just east of the south unit.


Cottonwood Campground is in the south unit. When we got to the south unit, only one campsite was left, and a park host told us if we wanted it, we needed to get there fast. Park of the reason for that is that in the south unit the odd numbered campsites are reservable and the even numbered sites are first come. At the Juniper Campground in the north unit, all campsites are first come. The south unit has a fresh water fill for RVs. The north unit has a dump station, but they are lacking fresh water except outside the restroom.

The south unit has 70 something campsites while the north unit has 50. The south unit is on Mountain time, but the north unit is in the Central Time Zone. In both units the full price for a campsite is $14 per night. If you have a senior pass, the cost is $7 per night.

Both units have bison roaming. In the north unit, the bison were closer to the roads. In both units we saw wild turkeys. Mule deer are also in both units. In the north we saw rabbits, but our favorite wildlife was in the south unit which had wild horses. Both units have scenic drives. The south is supposed to be a 28 mile loop, but road construction changed that. The scenic drive in the north unit is 14 miles out and back. You will find CCC buildings in both units.

Moving on the the Visitor Centers, the visitor center in the south is a large visitor center. Roosevelt's cabin is just outside the back door of the south unit. Both visitor centers have knowledgeable workers who want you to have a great trip. The south unit visitor center is considerably larger than the visitor center in the north.