Sully Creek State Recreation Area anchors this campground just outside Medora, where the Little Missouri River runs alongside the sites and the Maah Daah Hey Trail passes directly through the grounds. The campground divides into three distinct sections: Whitetail Flats, an open meadow with electric hookups (30/50 amp) and wide spacing between sites; the Cedar area, a wooded loop with a 10-foot height restriction and dry camping among the trees; and Little Muddy Breaks, reserved for horse camping with electric hookups and stalls. Each section has a noticeably different character.
Campers in the Cedar area consistently report the most shade and site privacy, though those sites fill first on busy weekends. Whitetail Flats is more exposed, with satellite reception generally unobstructed and cell coverage that varies by site. One reviewer noted Verizon went from one bar on site 8 to solid coverage on site 11, so it may be worth asking the ranger about signal when checking in. The shower house near the entrance has been remodeled and gets good marks for cleanliness, though showers are coin-operated and the facility has no flush toilets. As Sharon put it, she "would give five stars except for lack of flush toilets."
Water is available at multiple points throughout the campground, though fill pressure at the dump station has been reported as low. The Little Missouri River runs adjacent to the grounds, but summer water levels can drop to just a few inches, making kayaking impractical outside of early spring. Fishing and hiking are more reliable year-round activities. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a short drive away, and the Maah Daah Hey Trail gives hikers immediate access from camp.
Reservations are available and recommended during peak summer months. Nightly rates run $15 to $30, though campers should factor in the separate vehicle day-use fee, which has caught some visitors off guard at check-in. The reservation system can be confusing; arriving with confirmation in hand and stopping at the ranger station before pulling into a site avoids most of the friction reviewers mention. Wasps are a documented nuisance in late September, and bug spray is not available in Medora, so pack accordingly.
Sully Creek State Park sits just south and provides an alternative for campers who want a slightly different configuration within the same area.
Description
Just south of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and a couple miles from the town of Medora, Rough Rider State Park is located in the heart of North Dakota’s Badlands. This small park provides easy access to the Little Missouri River for paddlers and anglers, and serves as a launch point for the 170-mile Maah Daah Hey and the 50-mile Maah Daah Hey II trails. These two scenic trails invite hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to discover the Badlands’ peaks, plateaus, prairies, and wetlands—just as Roosevelt saw them more than a century ago. Rough Rider also makes an ideal basecamp for exploring the nearby national park in a quieter setting, or if the park’s facilities are full.
Rough Rider offers 41 spacious campsites in three open, grassy areas: Whitetail Flats, Cedar, and Little Muddy Breaks. Whitetail Flats offers open, grassy, pull-through sites that can accommodate large RVs; Cedar is a wooded loop with pull-through and back-in sites for smaller RVs and tent campers; Little Muddy Breaks is an open area designated for horse campers, and features corrals and a round pen. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, and there are vault toilets, a shower house, drinking water, and a dump station available; hookups are not available at this location. Dogs are permitted in the park, but must remain leashed. Camping is available from April through November. Campsites are $12/night; reservations accepted.
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Please be aware that Rough Rider State Park is located in the Mountain Time Zone , not Central. Check-in and Check-out times listed are MT.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsRough Rider State Park Campground is located in North Dakota near Medora
Directions
Rough Rider is located 2 1/4 miles south of Medora on paved road then 1/4 of a mile west on gravel road.
Address
1465 36th St
Medora, ND 58645
Coordinates
46.8927271701544 N
103.536657196105 W
Access
Features
For Campers
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 48 min from Bismarck, ND
- 3 hrs 6 min from Minot, ND
- 3 hrs 43 min from Rapid City, SD
- 3 hrs 53 min from Billings, MT




















































