One day was all we had in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We were on a quest to tick off the best of western North Dakota on a longer road trip, so we focused on covering the South Unit. That’s the more popular section of the park.
While you can certainly spend more time here, one day is enough to see the highlights of a park that was such a pleasant surprise. If you’re able to make it out this way, I’d highly recommend a stop, even with limited time.
The guide I’ll get into below is how we spent one day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. If you’re able to make it out this way, I’d highly recommend a stop, even with limited time.
Quick Tips for Your Theodore Roosevelt Visit
Your Flight: Bismarck Airport is the closest airport to the park. You’re more likely to find deals in Rapid City, but you’ll have a four-hour drive from there. That’s why this one is a more likely road trip stop on trips through the Dakotas.
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Your Accommodations: We stayed at the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dickinson and would highly recommend it. Browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for more options. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.
Your Ride: You’ll need a car for your trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Book a rental car ahead of time.
Top Spots: Hike the Painted Canyon Nature Trail, visit a prairie dog town, and see the view from the Wind Canyon Trail.
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Is Theodore Roosevelt National Park worth visiting?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is worth it for the wildlife spotting alone, but it’s also home to the most diverse terrain in the region.
You’ll see the badlands of North Dakota, proving that South Dakota’s Badlands National Park doesn’t hold a monopoly on otherworldly landscapes.
The park is also a great stop for history buffs. The park is famous for its connection to President Theodore Roosevelt. This landscape is what influenced him to get involved in conservation efforts countrywide.
As such, it’s the only national park in the country to be named after one individual. You’ll see nods to Teddy all over the aptly named park.
Note: Roosevelt’s efforts doubled the number of sites within the National Park Service system. Crater Lake in Oregon, Wind Cave in South Dakota, and Mesa Verde in Colorado are all national parks founded by him.
How many days do you need for Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
You really only need a day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park if you stick to one unit. The park is made up of three different areas: the South Unit, North Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
The North and South units are the most popular, but they’re separated by over an hour’s drive.
I’ll stick to the South Unit in this guide because that’s what we did. I’ll include some ideas for the other regions for those with extra time once I’m done prattling on about our visit, though. I’m a giver.
The Best Time to Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The best time to visit the park is in the late spring to early summer. You’ll have the best chance for wildflowers and sunny skies without the crowds that plague other national parks in the summertime.
Fall is another pleasant time to visit. You’ll get to catch some changing foliage while enjoying park trails with even fewer hikers.
Access to the park is most limited in the winter months. North Dakota can get some intense weather, and road closures can be a problem during that time.
How to Get to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the South Unit Visitors Center are about 136 miles from Bismarck Airport, the closest airport to the park.
That’s still about two hours from that section of the park, which means you’ll need a car upon arrival in Bismarck.
We were on a long road trip through the Dakotas during our trip. If you’re able to do the same, I’d highly recommend it. This part of the United States is fairly remote, so you may as well take your time and enjoy the scenery.
If you’re able to start at Rapid City Regional Airport, that’s about a four-hour drive to the South Unit of the park.
Rapid City itself is a great base for all kinds of adventures like Wind Cave and Badlands national parks, the controversial Mount Rushmore, and Custer State Park.
READ MORE: Love the idea of starting in Rapid City? Start with my guide to help you plan.
Getting Around Theodore Roosevelt National Park
You’ll need a car to get around the park. Both the South Unit and North Unit feature scenic drives.
It takes about 90 minutes to drive through Theodore Roosevelt National Park if you have the park’s Scenic Loop Drive in mind.
It’s normally 36 miles of viewpoints, trail access, and wildlife spotting, but due to indefinite road closures, it’s now 24 miles in and 24 miles out.
Yep, that means it’s not actually a loop at the moment.
I’ll describe the Scenic Loop Drive as we experienced it with that road closure in mind. Check on park conditions before you head out in case of updates.
How to Spend One Day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
With just one day in the park, here’s what I’d recommend for your Theodore Roosevelt National Park itinerary:
- Make a quick stop at the Painted Canyon Visitors Center.
- Snap a photo at the Painted Canyon Overlook.
- Hike the Painted Canyon Nature Trail.
- Visit the Maltese Cross Cabin.
- Pull over for at least one prairie dog town.
- Walk to views of the Little Missouri River from above and below.
- Climb to the Wind Canyon overlook and Buck Hill.
- Look for bison, wild ponies, and other park wildlife.
- See the wildflowers on the Coal Vein Trail.
- Drive as much of the Scenic Loop Drive as you can.
While you will pass through Medora and its many food options there, I always recommend packing a lunch when you’re out and about our national parks.
Eateries around National Park Service sites are never anything too astounding, and your time is better spent elsewhere.
Stop 1: Painted Canyon Visitors Center
We saw our first bison right out front, munching on some grass. Don’t you worry, we follow national park rules and keep a safe distance away while we snap our photos.
The visitor center itself is worth a quick stop to learn about any park closures and a brief overview of the geology of the park. You’ll want to spend most of your time taking in the scenery of the park, so don’t linger here too long.
Note: Theodore Roosevelt National Park hours are 24 hours, but visitor center hours vary by site. Your $30/vehicle entrance fee is collected at entrance stations in the late spring to summer months and at visitor centers otherwise. You can also purchase an annual America the Beautiful pass.
Stop 2: Painted Canyon Overlook
This colorful vista is a nice introduction to the park. If you’re unable to hike trails on your Theodore Roosevelt National Park visit, this paved overlook to panoramic views is one of the breeziest things to do while you’re here.
Stop 3: Painted Canyon Nature Trail
Don’t leave this portion of the park just yet. This trail is just under a mile and allows you to get closer to the badlands of the park.
It’s a loop so you really can’t go wrong, but there is some climbing involved. Stop at an overlook about midway down if you’re struggling a bit.
We saw two women carrying a stroller down to the floor of the badlands on this one. Don’t do this!
With more time, you can access the Painted Canyon Trail from here. That one is 4.3 miles roundtrip. As the scenic road was still experiencing closures during our trip, we continued along our way.
You’ll enter the South Unit scenic loop from here.
Stop 4: South Unit Visitors Center
You’re entering the most-visited area of the park now, but the crowds we encountered were nowhere near what you’d see in the more popular parks around the United States.
Stop by the museum inside to check out a few personal effects that once belonged to Teddy Roosevelt, including gear used when he was one of the Rough Riders.
Fun fact: You may use the term colloquially, but the Rough Riders were the nickname given to the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War. They were the only volunteer regiment to see combat during that time.
If you need a bathroom stop before hitting the scenic loop in earnest, this is a great place to do it.
Stop 5: Maltese Cross Cabin
Don’t leave the visitor center just yet. This is where you’ll see the Maltese Cross Cabin. This cabin was once temporarily occupied by Theodore Roosevelt in the late 1800s. Pay a quick visit inside to see his beloved rocking chair.
Stop 6: Prairie Dog Metropolis
You’re on Scenic Loop Drive from here. Feel free to skip the Medora Outlook, the first scenic vista on this stretch, as it’s just a view of the visitor center below. It’s fine, but you’ll see better.
If you’re new to prairie dogs, this is your first glimpse of the large mounds created by the park’s large prairie dog population. Step out just to hear their chirping. You can see them on either side.
Fun fact: Prairie dogs carry the plague! As with any wild animals in any national park or otherwise, keep a safe distance.
Stop 7: Skyline Vista
It’s a short walk here to views of Johnson’s Plateau. It was beautiful but super windy with that not-so-gentle prairie breeze the signage here describes.
Stop 8: Peaceful Valley Ranch
This is one of the oldest ranches in North Dakota. Walk the boardwalk to see an 1883 cabin that has served a number of purposes over the years.
From the 1960s through the summer of 2014, this was a horse ranch offering guided horseback tours.
I’d love to return to see what they do with the place, as the park service is seeking suggestions for creative options. I mean, I always like a cheese shop, but understand that doesn’t scream “RANCH!”
Stop 9: Little Missouri River
The Peaceful Valley Ranch is the best place to access the Little Missouri River in a more intimate way. It took us about five minutes to walk out to the river and enjoy some major solitude.
This is where you’d pick up the Big Plateau and Ekblom trails. You can combine the two for a loop of about 5.3 miles, but you’ll need to cross the Little Missouri River to get there. I don’t mind a water crossing, but we weren’t prepared for it this time around.
The water was also way too high during our visit to attempt this.
READ MORE: If you love wading through water for a big payoff, it doesn’t get better than the Narrows.
Stop 10: Wind Canyon Trail
You’ll pass the Jones Creek Trail, a seven-mile trail that also involves creek crossings and another prairie dog town on the right to get to your next stop. Stop if you’d like, but you probably know what they’re all about by this point.
This trail is under half a mile to an overlook that’s not as windy as you’d expect by the name. This was my favorite viewpoint in the park, but it’s likely because of what we saw once we got up there.
We got to see bison crossing the Little Missour River with a baby bison in tow. It was all very whimsical and certainly showed off the magic of this park.
It is some work to climb up to the overlook, but nothing too dramatic. You’ll loop the way down into some overgrown brush. Hiking pants are always a good idea on national park adventures.
Stop 11: Boicourt Overlook
You can see the views from the car park here, but I suggest walking up to the viewpoint along a dirt path off to the left for more impressive views of the badlands below. If you don’t love the dirt, keep on reading. A paved option is coming up.
Stop 12: Boicourt Overlook Trail
In less than a minute’s drive, you’re at another opportunity to see the same views as the Boicourt Overlook you just left. This one is paved and more accessible.
We did this one on the return trip and it was a nice way to finish up, but you can fit it in on your way out, too.
Stop 13: Buck Hill
Pass by the Talkington Trail to your next stop. There wasn’t a car in sight at the parking area for this so I’m sure it’s a nice one for some solitude. It’s best for day hikers and longer visits, though. It’s an 8.2-mile hike roundtrip.
Stop at Buck Hill, instead. A short but steep trail of about 0.2 miles takes you to the second-highest point in this section of the park.
We walked along the ridge line for a bit for more unobstructed views and found you can actually go for quite a while if you’re the ambitious sort.
Stop 14: Coal Vein Trail
You’ll pass a bathroom on the way to your next step. We didn’t need one at the time, but we did pull over anyway to check out the wild ponies that were munching around while folks used the facilities.
Continue along to the Coal Vein Trail, a nature trail of just 0.6-0.8 miles, depending on whether you take the inner or outer loop.
Before planning our tour of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit, I read that this trail was boring compared to everything else that was suggested in the area. I disagree with that.
I like an easy nature loop from time to time that doesn’t require climbing a bunch of elevation to scenic points. I mean, that’s all exciting, but sometimes a gal needs a break.
If you visit in the early summer months, expect plentiful blooms and green valleys as you look for evidence of the old coal vein fires.
Stop 15: Old East Entrance
To get to your last stop, pass an entrance for the Badlands Spur Trail, a connector of sorts that links you to the longer day hikes in the park.
If you want to stretch your legs a bit, this is a great spot to explore the intriguing rock formations in the park and potentially spot more wild horses.
Otherwise, head for the Old East Entrance, the original entrance to the park. This is the end of the road for you on your scenic drive, as the road is closed past this point for ongoing repair work.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to miss out on the Badlands Overlook and the Scoria Point Overlook right now, but that only means a return trip in the future.
There’s a short trail here of just under a mile to check out the old entrance and more prairie dogs. As we had traveled through South Dakota before visiting this park, we didn’t really have a need for more prairie dog spotting so we didn’t linger here.
You’ll need to turn around here and go back from whence you came until the loop reopens. That doesn’t mean the fun is over. We saw a decent-sized bison herd on the side of the road as we were heading back the opposite way.
More Things to Do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
With more time, you can spend another full day in the more compact North Unit of the park. While you’re there, drive this section’s Scenic Drive to the Oxbow Overlook, hike the Little Mo Nature Trail, and get your panorama fix at the River Bend Overlook.
If you’re feeling even more adventurous, spend an afternoon exploring the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. (You won’t need more time than that.)
This is a very different kind of experience. Rather than hiking and looking for bison, you’ll be visiting Teddy Roosevelt’s ranch after the deaths of his wife and mother.
This section truly shows off the history of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but you’ll have to travel down unpaved roads to get there.
The National Park Service recommends high-clearance vehicles for the last three miles. There are no visitor centers out here. Ask about road conditions at one of the ranger sites in the North or South units before you set out.
Where to Stay Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The western-themed town of Medora is a popular option for folks visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Rough Riders Hotel tops the list for most booked hotels.
You’re minutes away from the South Unit Visitors Center if you do the same, but it’ll cost you. We chose Dickinson for the cost savings.
It was still less than half an hour to the park from our lodging, and that sounded pretty good to us.
It’s about an hour to the North Unit from Dickinson, but if you’re used to Dakota road trips, that may not sound all that bad to you, either. You’ll just need to account for extra drive time as you plan your day.
Our pick was the dog-friendly Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dickinson. You don’t usually expect too much out of chain hotels like this, but we had such a pleasant stay there.
We got little welcome bags full of candy, a decent breakfast in the morning, and a free dinner upon arrival.
They were celebrating something that day, by the way. The free dinner was a lark. I’d highly recommend it for a budget-friendly, comfortable stay with easy access to the park.
If you want to comparison shop, browse the map below for more accommodations near Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
You should visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The park offers a unique national park experience without the crowds of some of the other national parks.
Explore a visit to the badlands that isn’t THE Badlands, spend time in the backcountry, and encounter diverse wildlife. This one is a fantastic park for scenic drives, excellent trails, and what I imagine is much-needed tranquility.
Love national parks? Check out these posts:
- An Epic Guide for Glacier National Park
- See the Big Trees at Sequoia National Park
- Visit Intriguing Death Valley National Park
- Love Underrated Parks? Check Out Congaree
- Devils Tower: A Trip to an Epic National Monument
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- A Boat Trip Guide to the Apostle Islands
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