Are you tired of the work grind? Do you need to get away?
Pack your bags, grab the family, and head off for an RV camping vacation!
Destination: Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
RV camping is the perfect way to experience everything the great outdoors offers in comfort and style.
Drive the scenic roads or take off on horseback through the miles of trails in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, look no further, RV camping in Theodore Roosevelt National Park has everything you need.
Follow along, and we’ll go over the ins and outs of this national park named after our 26th president and the creator of the National Parks System!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Facts
Established in 1947, Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park was created to honor and preserve our 26th president’s legacy of land protection. Today, the park covers over 70,000 acres and draws in almost 700,000 visitors each year.
Here are just a few more fascinating Theodore Roosevelt National Park facts to get you excited about an RV camping trip to this outdoor paradise.
-
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is known for its biodiversity. More than 186 types of birds live in the park. Plus, there are dozens of mammal species, including bison, feral horses, elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn, and prairie dogs.
-
The park boasts over 500 species of native plants. However, the park is a fragile ecosystem, which means park rangers have to consistently work to combat non-native plant threats.
-
There are over 100 miles of paved or dirt road trails for horses and hikers within the park.
-
There is a seven-foot-tall fence around much of the park. It's meant to keep in bison and wild horses.
-
Native American history stretches back thousands of years in the park. Mandan, Hidatsa, and Crow people dominated the area, and remnants of their pottery can still be found at the park.
-
Theodore Roosevelt first found the area that is now Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1883. He soon founded Elkhorn Ranch and was said to have been inspired by the beauty of the land to create the National Parks System in America.
If these quick facts have piqued your interest, there is more to come! Read on for a look into park activities and top spots for RV camping near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Photo Credit: Instagram User @thedukesnl
Best Theodore Roosevelt National Park RV Parks and Campgrounds
Nature lovers, horseback riders, fishermen—there’s something for everyone at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Getting an RV rental is a great way to experience it in comfort and style.
Explore the RV parks near Theodore Roosevelt National Park below!
Cottonwood Campground
Amenities: One of two potential RV campsites inside the park, Cottonwood Campground lies along the Little Missouri River under a cottonwood forest. It’s the only campground inside the park’s southern unit. The campground is a rustic spot for dry camping, but it’s close to the town of Medora if you want to go out into town for a night to eat at a restaurant or see a movie.
Capacity: There are 37 reservable, and 36 first-come, first-server sites but no RV hookups.
More information: Cottonwood Campground
Juniper Campground
Amenities: The second campground for RVs inside the park, and the only in the north unit, is Juniper Campground. The campground is rustic and comes with few amenities; however, there is a seasonal dump station and potable water. Plus, the site has picnic tables, firepits, and nice views along the Little Missouri River with plenty of big cottonwoods, offering shade and large open campsites.
Capacity: There are 48 sites with no RV hookups, and all are first-come, first-serve.
More information: Juniper Campground
Medora Campground
Amenities: If you need a full hookup, Medora Campground is the spot for you. It’s just outside the park along Little Missouri River. There are more amenities at this campground than at the ones located within national park boundaries. Amenities include an RV waste station, general store, free WiFi, bathrooms, laundry, and more.
Capacity: There are 150 campsites, and many include either 20, 30, or 50 amp RV full hookup options.
More information: Medora Campground
Buffalo Gap Campground
Amenities: Buffalo Gap Campground is a quiet spot located 11 minutes from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The place includes restrooms, showers, potable water, and a dump station. There are also large 60-foot long parking pads to accommodate any size RV and a beautiful pollinator garden with dozens of species of flowers. You can also hike up Scoria Hill to an overlook just 600 yards from camp.
Capacity: There are 35 sites that are all first-come, first-serve. There are no RV hookups, but the campground charges just $6 per night.
More information: Buffalo Gap Campground
Boots RV Campground
Amenities: Boots Bar and Grill offers live music nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park and an RV campground to boot. For just $35 a night, you’ll get a full RV hookup, WiFi, and a beautiful open campsite. It’s only six minutes to the national park entrance and has plenty of open space to stretch your legs.
Capacity: There are 16 RV campsites at Boots, including sites up to 60 feet in length with 30 and 50 amp full hookups, pull-throughs, and back-ins.
More information: Boots RV Campground
Best Time to Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park for RV Camping
Did you know Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open 24/7, 365 days a year!
As long as you come prepared, there’s no best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
Winter
The winter in North Dakota can bring serious snow. Theodore Roosevelt National Park receives 30 inches of snow per year. The snow arrives in October and stays until April, causing some or all park roads to close. Make sure you check the weather before heading out.
There is plenty to do in the winter at Theodore Roosevelt. From cross-country skiing to visiting the local museum, North Dakota has far more to offer than most expect.
Spring
Spring is the perfect time of year to take advantage of the miles of hiking and horseback riding trails in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Average highs hover around 45-65°F in the spring, which means strenuous hiking and backcountry camping are on the menu for most.
If you’re looking to go birdwatching or see the wildflower bloom in early May, you can’t miss spring at the park.
Summer
Summer is the tourist season at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The weather is beautiful, with average high temperatures in the 70s and 80s°F. Ranger-led programs, like the Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival, go into full swing in the summer, which draws in the crowds.
If you want to come in the summer, remember North Dakota is known for its violent summertime thunderstorms, so pack plenty of rain gear.
Fall
The beginning and end of fall are very different in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The beginning of fall is the perfect time of year for wildlife viewing as temperatures haven’t hit freezing, and all the leaves of the cottonwoods are changing colors, making for amazing scenery.
By the end of fall, however, the cold has usually arrived, and the park will be covered with snow. You can still hike and go horseback riding, but you’ll need to be wrapped up as temperatures during the day average around freezing after October.
Things to Do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
From hiking to fishing, there are endless possibilities for outdoor activities in national parks. Still, sometimes choosing the best option for your family can be a challenge.
Here are just a few of the top things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park to help with the indecisiveness.
-
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a top spot to try backcountry camping. There are many beautiful, remote spots where you can get in touch with nature, just remember your free backcountry camping permit.
-
Try your hand at canoeing and kayaking down the Little Missouri River for an escape into the solitude of the North Dakota Badlands.
-
Take up cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, himself. Roosevelt once described “a trip on snowshoes” like a march “through the silent, mysterious fairy-land of the woods in winter.”
-
One of the only national parks that is open to use by horses, Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers a Roundup Group Horse Camp, Weed-free hay/feed sources, and thousands of miles of trails that are perfect for horseback riding.
-
Hiking or bicycling one of the many dozens of paved trails at the park is probably the best way to experience Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You could take a short 10-minute hike on Skyline Vista atop Johnson’s Plateau for an amazing view. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, you can take on Achenbach, an 18-mile hike with steep climbs and even a river crossing.
-
If you just want to relax, try fishing. Catch chubs, minnows, bluegills, carpsuckers, channel catfish, goldeyes, and sauger as long as you follow North Dakota fishing regulations.
Tips on Visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Now that you have the Theodore Roosevelt National Park facts, a list of nearby RV parks, and ideas on how to spend your time, what are you waiting for? It’s time to load up the RV and get on the road!
Before you do, we have a couple of last-minute tips to help make your trip a little smoother.
-
If you’re planning on doing any backcountry hiking or backpacking, consider buying a topographic map of the park from Theodore Roosevelt Nature and History Association (TRNHA).
-
There are close to 600 bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They are amazing to see, but remember to keep your distance (100 yards minimum)—they can be territorial.
-
The Little Missouri River is known for its varying depth. If you’re looking to go fishing or boating, make sure you check the national park’s hydrological activity page for information on water levels.
-
North Dakota is also known for its poison ivy in wet areas and ticks in late spring and early summer, so be careful what you touch and bring bug spray.
-
If you come to the park for mountain biking, keep on the paved or dirt roads. Off-road biking isn’t allowed in the park.
-
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is split into two units, North and South. Interestingly, the North Unit operates on Central time, while the South Unit operates on Mountain time.
Photo Credit: Instagram User @annasiobhan
RV Rental for Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Good News! The scenic roads of both the North and South units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park can accommodate large recreational vehicles!
Maximize your adventure to Theodore Roosevelt National Park with an RV! If you don’t own one, consider an RV rental for your vacation.
With an RV from Cruise America, you’ll have air conditioning, a freshwater toilet, a gas cooktop, a shower, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a generator. Plus, Cruise America RVs are pet-friendly and allow towing.
Are you ready to enjoy all the comforts of home while exploring the great outdoors?
Explore Cruise America’s array of RV rental options today!