Where to Stay at Theodore Roosevelt National Park: In the Park, Gateway Towns & Campgrounds

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt isn't Yellowstone. You won't find a grand log lodge beside a river or a panoramic dining room to reserve six months ahead. What you will find are two well-placed campgrounds inside the park, plus a few gateway towns with very different profiles depending on your budget and which unit you want to visit.

The short answer. For a full immersion, camp at Cottonwood in the South Unit or Juniper in the North Unit. If you prefer a bed, Medora is just steps from the South Unit entrance, while Watford City serves the North Unit from about 15 miles away. Plan on two to three nights to cover both units comfortably. Our Itinerary & Trip Length guide offers detailed itineraries.

Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (3)

All Gateway townsLodgesCampgrounds

• Campground Cottonwood Campground recreation.gov · 76 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Juniper Campground recreation.gov · 50 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Roundup Group Horse Camp see NPS · 1 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

⚠ Gateway town & Lodge data is undergoing editorial review.

Should You Stay in the Park or Outside It?

Two questions settle it: what time do you want to hit the trail in the morning, and are you bringing camping gear?

In the park. The campgrounds put you in the heart of the Badlands, just minutes from overlooks and bison grazing areas. The quiet settles in around 8 p.m., and the night sky is remarkable, far from any urban lights. The tradeoff is that there is no food service, no showers at Juniper, and paid showers at Cottonwood.

Outside the park. Medora sits right against the South Unit entrance. Going back to your hotel at midday for a shower takes ten minutes, which is a real advantage when you're traveling with young kids or finishing a full day of hiking. Dickinson, 59 miles east via Interstate 94, offers standard American hotel comfort at lower prices. Watford City covers the North Unit without a detour.

Our take. If you've got the gear, spend at least one night camping in the park. The park is manageable in size, wildlife stays close to the campgrounds, and the Badlands at dawn have an almost unreal quality you won't get from a hotel parking lot in Medora.

Staying at Theodore Roosevelt: No Lodge, Just Campgrounds

Theodore Roosevelt National Park has no lodge, hotel, or other indoor lodging within its boundaries. The only on-site options are the campgrounds. That makes the choice simple, but it also means arriving prepared.

Cottonwood Campground (South Unit)

Cottonwood is the park's main campground, set along the Little Missouri River in the South Unit. Sites are spread through a riverside forest of cottonwood trees, which provide welcome shade in the height of summer in an otherwise wide-open landscape. Restrooms and paid showers are available. RVs are welcome, but there are no electrical hookups.

Some sites can be reserved through Recreation.gov, while the rest are first-come, first-served. In July and August, reservable sites fill up several weeks ahead. If you're going for a first-come site, arrive before 1 p.m.

Cottonwood stays open year-round. Access roads may close after heavy snowfall between November and March.

Juniper Campground (North Unit)

The North Unit gets far fewer visitors than the South Unit, and Juniper benefits directly from that. The sites are spacious, the atmosphere feels wilder, and the views of the distinctive rock formations in this unit are genuinely striking. There are no showers here, just restrooms. RVs are welcome, but there are no hookups.

The reservation system is the same as at Cottonwood, with some sites available through Recreation.gov and the rest first-come, first-served. The North Unit's high season is concentrated in June and July.

Backcountry Camping and Elkhorn Ranch Unit

For hikers who want to get away from developed areas, backcountry camping is allowed with a free permit picked up at the visitor center before departure. Elkhorn Ranch Unit, where Theodore Roosevelt ranched in the 1880s, is accessible only by dirt road. It's the most remote and quietest part of the park. Our Theodore Roosevelt camping guide covers backcountry rules and required gear in detail.

Where to Stay Around Theodore Roosevelt: Gateway Towns

Medora (South Unit), the Town Right Next to the Park

Medora sits directly beside the South Unit entrance, less than 1.2 miles from the entrance station. It has about 130 year-round residents and turns into a resort town between May and September, thanks in part to the Medora Musical, a popular outdoor show throughout the region.

The hotel selection is limited: a few motels, bed and breakfasts, and hotels, including the Rough Riders Hotel, whose name recalls the volunteer regiment Roosevelt commanded during the Spanish-American War of 1898. Rates are high for the region, especially on July and August weekends, when the town often sells out.

Medora works well for travelers who want to maximize their time in the park and don't want to drive every morning. It's less suited to tight budgets in peak season or to families looking for extra space.

Dickinson (South Unit), the Comfort-and-Price Compromise

Dickinson is about 59 miles east of Medora on Interstate 94, a 50-minute drive. A city of 22,000 and home to a university, it has the usual American hotel chains, including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and AmericInn, at rates often 30 to 40% lower than Medora's in peak season.

The downside is simple: one hour of driving round-trip every day. For a single full day in the park, that's perfectly manageable. For an intensive, multi-day hiking itinerary, the distance starts to wear on you.

Dickinson also has the nearest airport with regular regional service, Dickinson Regional Airport (IATA code: DIK). From Bismarck, the state capital, figure on about 137 miles west.

Watford City (North Unit), the North Unit Base

Watford City is about 15 miles from the North Unit entrance, on US Highway 85. The city has grown rapidly in recent years because of the Bakken oil industry, resulting in a much larger hotel selection than you might expect from a town of this size in the Great Plains.

If your itinerary includes the North Unit, and it should, its cliffs and prairie dog towns are spectacular, and visitation is far lower than in the South Unit. Watford City is the natural base. If everything is booked, Williston, about 47 miles away, can serve as a fallback.

When to Book Your Theodore Roosevelt Lodging

Medora fills up fast. Hotels often sell out for July weekends by mid-April.

For campgrounds. Reserve through Recreation.gov as soon as dates open, five months ahead. For first-come, first-served sites, arriving on a weekday, Tuesday or Wednesday, before 1 p.m. gives you the best chance of getting a site.

For Medora hotels. Book two to three months ahead for July and August. Outside that window, late August and September bring beautiful fall light to the Badlands, fewer crowds, and more reasonable rates.

For Dickinson and Watford City. One to two weeks ahead is enough outside holiday weekends. These towns regularly absorb the visitors Medora can't accommodate.

Our Theodore Roosevelt weather guide and best time to visit guide cover conditions month by month to help you fine-tune your travel dates.

Lodging Budget: How Much Does It Cost to Stay at Theodore Roosevelt?

On top of these costs, there's the park entrance fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. The park's annual pass costs $55 and pays for itself after two visits in a year. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page. For an overall view of trip costs, our budget page covers every expense category.

Our Recommendation by Traveler Type

First visit, traveling independently. Two nights at Cottonwood for the Badlands and bison, followed by one night at Juniper for the cliffs and solitude. This itinerary makes the most of the park's two distinct sides.

Families with kids. One night camping at Cottonwood for the experience, followed by one night in Medora or Dickinson for a proper night's sleep. The complete absence of a lodge makes the choice straightforward: it's a tent or an outside hotel, with nothing in between.

Budget travelers. Camp every night. Cottonwood has paid showers, so bring change, making it the most comfortable low-cost option. Including the entrance fee and campsite, expect to spend less than $25 per night.

Comfort first. Medora, as long as you book early. The town's main advantage is its immediate proximity to the entrance. You can go back for lunch, take a nap, and head out again in the afternoon without interrupting your day.

An itinerary focused on the North Unit. Watford City is the only logical choice. Driving from Medora every day to visit the North Unit means about 81 miles between the two entrances. That's time wasted in a park that deserves your attention on the ground.

Find all our Theodore Roosevelt resources in our complete Theodore Roosevelt guide.

Frequently Asked Questions