Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota.” Once he became the 26th President, he helped shape a conservation policy that still today benefits many national parks, and in his honor stands the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in his beloved North Dakota. The only American national park named directly after a single person, the park covers 70,446 acres made up of three areas: the South Unit, the North Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. The landscape varies, as it includes the badlands, wide open prairie and the Little Missouri River.

The park is one of the most pristine, protected habitats for bison in the United States. Visitors can expect beautiful views and abundant wildlife viewing, including bison, elk, horses, coyotes, pronghorns (the fastest land animal in North America!), bobcats, prairie dogs and so much more. Keep in mind that the wildlife in the park is wild and should be viewed from a distance for your safety. The terrain features rolling hills, hiking through the badlands, prairie ecosystem and canyons, sweeping views and plenty of outdoor fun, including backcountry camping, canoeing/kayaking, fishing and much more.

Weather conditions can change quickly, but in general, the wind is considerable year-round. Summers are warm with average highs between the 70s and 80s and winters are cold with lows in the single digits from December through February. In the winter, snow is likely, with an average of 30 inches during the winter months.

There is plenty to do in the towns around the park, especially in the small Badlands town of Medora. It’s the gateway to the South Unit of the park, but is also an Old West Cowtown that features horseback riding, museums, the Burning Hills Amphitheatre, and camping and luxury lodging alike.

If you’re looking for activities within the park, there is lots of fun to experience. A full event calendar can be found here. But don’t forget: the North and South units within the park are in different time zones! The North Unit is in the Central Time Zone and South is Mountain Time.