Theodore Roosevelt National Park features several campgrounds across its north and south units, each providing access to the rugged badlands landscape of western North Dakota. Juniper Campground in the north unit and Cottonwood Campground in the south unit offer established camping within park boundaries, while surrounding areas like Dakota Prairie National Grasslands provide additional options. Both tent and RV camping are supported throughout the region, with most National Park sites featuring basic amenities including drinking water, vault toilets, and picnic tables. Dispersed camping opportunities exist on nearby public lands, particularly in the grasslands surrounding the park.
The camping season generally runs from May through September, with some sites like Summit Campground and Magpie Campground remaining open year-round. Summer temperatures can be extremely hot with limited shade at many sites. "The site is really clean and is surrounded by grass. During the drive you can see buffalo on the side eating," noted one visitor to Juniper Campground. Winter camping is possible but facilities are limited and travelers should prepare for harsh conditions. Fire restrictions may apply during dry periods, and campers should be aware that wildlife, particularly bison, frequently move through campgrounds. Many established campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays, though dispersed options typically remain available.
Campers consistently highlight wildlife viewing as a primary draw for camping in this area. Bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs are commonly spotted, sometimes within the campgrounds themselves. "Buffalo walking through the campground- how awesome," remarked one visitor about their experience at Juniper. The north unit receives fewer visitors than the south unit, offering a quieter experience with equally impressive scenery. Reviews frequently mention the spectacular badlands vistas, particularly during sunrise and sunset. Though amenities are basic at most sites, with few offering showers or hookups, the natural setting compensates for the rustic conditions. Several reviewers note the helpfulness of park rangers and camp hosts, who provide information about hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the park.
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Round 1 of 5
$30 / night
"Believe it or not, but I would put the North unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park even ahead of Yosemite. The trees and the canopy in the Juniper campground is really cool."
"While this may be in the middle of nowhere, it is worth the trip off the beaten path. From what I understand, the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is even leas visited and less crowded."
$10 / night
"Absolutely beautiful campground right across the river from Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s north unit. The scenery is breathtaking."
"It is a close drive to Theodore Roosevelt National Park which is nice because we could spend all day at the park and then easily make it back in time to cook dinner and enjoy the site as well."
$6 / night
"The part I like most about this campground is the easy access to the world renowned Maah Daah Hey Trail: >100 miles of trail open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders."
"They said they had good trails, but we didn’t have much time to explore. Beautiful views and very peaceful. Only downfall was the long drive on the rough/ unpaved roads."
"Right on the highway so loud traffic all night. 1 pit toilet, 4 sites with picnic tables. Easy walk to a great view of the badlands."
"This is a great free place to stay right outside the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP. There are 4 rv spots along with some tent camping opportunities."
"We explored the area - close to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit and National Grasslands. Lots of trees for shade."
"There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either). Yay: simple camping and lovely scenery, wildlife."
$20 - $60 / night
"Cottonwood Campground was a very welcome oasis in the prairies of North Dakota."
"What can I say, I went to Theodore Roosevelt National Park just to hangout with my brother and do some camping. I had very low expectations considering it is located in North Dakota."
$60 / night
"Really beautiful site here with lots of easy and moderate trails to explore with lovely sunrise/sunset and wildlife! Similar feel to Badlands with some fewer crowds."
"We stayed here while visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Amazing views and very quite."
"Camped for 1 night before going to theodore roosevelt national park the nxt day! It was nice! A lot of campers. Lots of spaces! Please be noce and clean after"
$30 - $60 / night
"Close spots just outside of Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Some spots are very close, but have stunning views of the buttes behind and the Little Missouri River."
"Great location! This campground isright next to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and across the street from The Medora Musical. Restrooms & showers are clean and the have a laundry."
TravelerNothing special small campground 2 rows in an open field surrounded by pine trees. Gravel sites full hookups ever worked fine. 20 minutes from south entrance of Theodore Roosevelt NP. About 6 site’s looked like full time residents.
TravelerWe drove up in the evening, and easily found an empty site. The lake was gorgeous, and the wind wasn’t as bad in the valley. There was a bit of goose poop, but such is life in dispersed camping. 😄
GuideThis a great find. They have shaded spots under trees and open spots. I doubt this campground would ever fill up in pretty much any size RV would fit. They provide picnic tables, garbage cans along with fire rings and you can always check out Fort Union and Fort Buford in the area.
GuideThis is a great free place to stay right outside the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP. There are 4 rv spots along with some tent camping opportunities. The trail behind leads to a spot with amazing views.
TravelerWe had the campground all to ourselves, with only the mooing of cows to keep us company. The pump works, but you have to work pretty hard to get water. If you’re up for halfway roughing it, this is for you! *Cost is $10 on honor basis.
ScoutI've read many reviews & comments about this campground on Facebook campground reviews. Except for the location, the campground sounds awful - run down, rude staff. I won't stay here.
TravelerExcellent Verizon cell service. Beautiful views. Easy road, smooth road in. Perfect!
Guidewe stayed here 2 nights over memorial day weekend. got there friday afternoon and almost every site was empty. we secured site 7, arguably the best in the camp! there is a large divot at the entrance so clearance is needed for this site but all the other sites are fairly flat upon entering. 360 panoramic views over the national park and the grasslands. it was incredible. obviously no toilets or water & no fires but thats what you get when you dispersed camp! the wind wasn’t bad when we stayed but I definitely could see it get really windy up here. the only downside to this campsite being right by the park, is that its right off of I94, it didn’t bother me because im a heavy sleeper but you could clearly hear every car. maybe this is better at the lower sites or the north facing sites. most sites are spread out but we didn’t have any neighbors regardless. very peaceful and very unique. will 100% stay here again if im ever in the area. i wanted to review this and leave some great pictures because to be honest from the previous picture reviews i wasn’t sold on the campsite until we got here. road is gravel to get there and theres only one sketchy part that only lasts a few feet, i think most cars even without 4wd could make this, im sure some trailers could but id be cautious with taking an RV up past site 6. I hope this review helps those considering boondocking here (you should do it). cheers and happy camping<3
GuideCCC Campground has easy access down an immaculate dirt road, 1 mile from Hwy 85. The sites are spacious and there are nice views in every direction.
TR NP North Unit is just a mile away by car and a few hundred yards as the crow flies.
We were here for Memorial Day weekend. RV electric (20,30,50) sites are $10/night and the campground was about 1/3 full. Tuesday after the holiday, we were one of 2 sites occupied. We love it here.
Drinking water is technically available and there is a standard hose hookup at the hydrant. But…… although safe to drink, it’s a bit tan in color and tastes like sulfurous soap. Yuck. Other than that, I’d give it 5 stars.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park's badlands landscape sits at elevations between 2,000 and 2,700 feet, creating a stark temperature contrast between summer days that can exceed 100°F and nights that drop below 50°F. The park's North Unit typically receives fewer visitors than the South Unit, despite comparable wildlife viewing opportunities. Camping areas span from established National Park sites to primitive dispersed options on the surrounding Dakota Prairie National Grasslands.
Wildlife viewing walks: 30 minutes before sunrise: The early morning hours provide prime wildlife spotting opportunities when animals are most active. "Plenty of wildlife came through the camp. Sites are spread apart. Bathrooms are clean," notes a visitor to Juniper Campground.
Star gazing: From high points away from town lights: The dark skies above the badlands offer excellent celestial viewing opportunities. "Panoramic vistas the next morning were incredible and made the night drive completely worth it," reports one camper at the Grassland Boondocking area outside Medora.
Prairie hiking: Maah Daah Hey Trail access: This extensive trail system connects multiple campgrounds and offers day hikes of varying difficulty. "The Maah Daah Hey and Long X trails start at this campground. We did a great 11ish mile mountain bike loop by heading up Maah Daah Hey and down Long X," shares a visitor to CCC Campground.
Quiet camping outside peak season: May and September: Shoulder seasons offer more solitude while maintaining good weather conditions. "We spent two nights at this campground in early October. We had it nearly to ourselves," reports a camper from CCC Campground, adding "October can be cold! It got down below freezing in the first week of October."
Helpful park rangers: Educational programs: Staff often provide valuable information about the park's features and wildlife. "Park Rangers provide educational classes from Thursday-Sunday evenings. Stunning views and wildlife experiences," explains a reviewer at Juniper Campground.
Unique sleeping options: Beyond tents and RVs: Some area campgrounds offer distinctive accommodations. "I believe that you can rent covered wagons here to sleep in as well if you are looking for a truly unique and western experience," notes a camper at Medora Campground.
First-come sites fill quickly: Arrive by early afternoon: Many campgrounds in the area operate without reservations, requiring early arrival. "The absolute anxiety of getting here and not knowing whether we'd be able to get a spot or not is off the charts. We got here at about 1pm on a Sunday thinking there shouldn't be a problem, yet there were probably only about 4 spots left," cautions a Juniper Campground visitor.
Water limitations: Bring your own or know sources: Water access varies significantly between campgrounds. "The only drinking water is at the bathroom and not meant to fill your rv with so don't come here expecting to be able to fill your rv with safe water. The other spigots marked as unsafe have really high fluoride content," warns another Juniper Campground camper.
Time zone confusion: Near boundary line: Some locations sit near the time zone change which can affect planning. "Funny tidbit, the campground is on the border of the time zone border, so my devices would change times and I thought there was a problem, took me a while to figure it out," mentions a visitor to Juniper Campground.
Kid-friendly ranger programs: Prairie dog presentations: Educational opportunities can engage children with local wildlife. "Our kids especially enjoyed the ranger presentation on prairie dogs," shares a camper from Cottonwood Campground in the south unit.
Playground access: Town facilities: Some campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. "This place has everything you need and more! It has a city pool right on site that is heated, a dog park, beautiful grounds with huge trees, great playground," notes a reviewer at Medora Campground.
Wildlife safety instruction: Bison encounters: Children need clear guidance about keeping distance from park wildlife. "Bison will definitely stroll through your sites if you're over by the field like we were," cautions a Juniper Campground visitor.
Site size constraints: Check length restrictions: Many campgrounds were designed before large RVs became common. "When this place was built, they never envisioned large rigs. So if you have one over 30 feet, just be aware you might have to wiggle your way into a site," advises a visitor to Juniper Campground.
Limited hookup options: Plan for boondocking: Full service sites are scarce within park boundaries. "Pads are asphalt and smallish. There are public washrooms, but no showers. There is a dump station, but no potable water for RV tanks," explains a camper at Juniper Campground.
Nearby services: Watford City access: Supplies are available in nearby towns rather than in the park. "Watford City about 20 minutes away for groceries & gas," shares a reviewer from Magpie Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is camping allowed inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Yes, camping is allowed inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park offers designated campgrounds for overnight stays. Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit provides a peaceful setting along the Missouri River with spacious sites for tents and RVs. For those looking to camp near the park but outside its boundaries, Sully Creek State Park is just ten minutes from the national park entrance and offers an alternative camping option with shower facilities ($1 for 8 minutes). National Park campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis and have modest fees. Backcountry camping is also permitted in specific areas with a free permit available from visitor centers.
Can I bring my RV to Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Yes, RVs are welcome at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, though services are limited inside the park with no hookups available. For full hookups, Red Trail Campground in Medora offers spacious sites with full hookup services right outside the park's South Unit entrance. Another excellent option is North Park Campground, which provides level sites with full hookups about 30 minutes from the park. The campground inside the park can accommodate smaller to medium-sized RVs, but has length restrictions and no hookups. During peak season, arriving early is recommended as sites fill quickly. Many RVers choose to stay at nearby private campgrounds with full amenities and make day trips into the park.
Where are the campgrounds located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park has two main campgrounds located in different units of the park. Cottonwood Campground is situated in the South Unit along the Missouri River, offering spacious sites with beautiful riverside views. In the North Unit, Juniper Campground provides a serene camping experience with tree cover and stunning landscapes. Both campgrounds are first-come, first-served and offer basic amenities like vault toilets and potable water (seasonal). The South Unit's Cottonwood Campground is near the town of Medora, while the North Unit's Juniper Campground is closer to Watford City, allowing visitors to experience different sections of this diverse national park.
Are there campgrounds near the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Yes, there are excellent camping options near the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. CCC Campground in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands is located right across the river from the North Unit, offering breathtaking scenery with three different loops (A-C). While most sites lack shade, a few in loop B do provide some coverage. Another option is Buffalo Gap Campground, a small 37-site Forest Service campground near the North Unit. It has no hookups or cell service but provides a quiet camping experience in two loops. The North Unit also contains Juniper Campground within the park boundaries for those wanting to stay inside the national park itself.
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