Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota offers both frontcountry and backcountry camping with campgrounds in both the North and South Unit, a group campground in the South Unit for camping with horses, and the nearby Forest Service campground outside Elkhorn Ranch. The campgrounds are: Cottonwoods, Juniper, Roundup and Elkhorn. There is no frontcountry campground in the Painted Canyon section of the park.
Camping is a popular way to enjoy the park. A little over half of the overnight stays in the park do so in a Recreational Vehicle (RV). The next most popular option is frontcountry tent camping. The primary camping season in Theodore Roosevelt is from May through September.
There is no in-park concessioner lodging. The nearest hotel and lodging options outside of the park are in Medora, North Dakota.
Cottonwoods Campground (South Unit)
It is located in the south unit five or six miles from the park entrance along the Little Missouri River. There are 76 sites, and roughly half of them are reservable. Half are first-come, first-serve. The fee is $14 per night in the summer and $7 per night in the winter. There are flush toilets during the summer and pit toilets year round. Drinking water spigots are located throughout the campground. There are no showers.
Juniper Campground (North Unit)
The campground in the North Unit is open year round and is located about five miles west of the visitor center along the Little Missouri River. There are 50 individual campsites available on a first come, first served – reservations are not permitted. The cost is $7 for a campsite during the winter and $14 per night during the summer. Pit toilets are available year round with flush toilets during the main season. There is one group campsite available for reservation only from May through September at a cost of $30 per night.
Roundup Group Horse Campground (South Unit)
This group campground is the only one in the park that allows camping with horses. It is located 12 miles from Medora near the northern border of the South Unit. It is reached by turning north on East River Road from the main park road and then follow the dirt road one mile until the Roundup Horse Camp Road branches to the left. It can also be reached by taking the Roundup Spur Trail from its junction with the Mike Auney Trail.
The Roundup Horse Camp is available by reservation only for groups with or without horses. It can accommodate up to 20 people and 20 horses or, if camping without horses, up to 30 people. It is not possible to split the campground between groups. The maximum length of a group stay is 5 nights. Reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance and the opening date for advance reservation s is the first business day in March. It has vault toilets, seasonal potable water and seasonal trash collection.
Elkhorn Campground (outside Elkhorn Ranch Unit)
There is a small campground with 9 camp spurs and a handicap vault toilet a few miles before the Elkhorn Ranch parking area. It is run by the Forest Service – not the National Park Service. In addition to the foundation and the Little Missouri River, there is a scenic canyon 2.5 miles west of the Elkhorn Ranch site.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Backcountry Camping
In addition to the frontcountry sites, backcountry permits for camping by hikers and boaters (on the Little Missouri River, when possible) are also available. A permit is required but free, and can be obtained up up to 14 consecutive days.
To obtain the permit, visitors must call the designated park number with their planned itinerary, vehicle information and emergency contact. Park visitors in the backcountry should also call the permit number at the completion of the trip to advise the park that your party has left the backcountry.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park has established a number of rules for the backcountry, which are available on the park website. These rules include the following:
– Overnight parties are limited to 10 persons without horses, or 8 persons and 8 horses.
– Backcountry camps must be more than 1/4 mile of roads and trailheads as well as more than 200 feet away from any water source. Campsites must not be visible from any road or trail.
– Open fires of any kind are not permitted in the backcountry. Cooking is limited to a self-contained stove fueled by a commercial product, although even stoves may be restricted in times of fire danger.
– All materials and trash, including toilet paper, must be packed out. Burying trash is prohibited. Human waste must be buried in a shallow hole at least 6-8 inches deep and more than 200 feet from any water source.
– Dish washing and the use of detergents are prohibited in water sources.