Rough Rider State Park

Located in the heart of the North Dakota badlands, Rough Rider State Park is just minutes away from the historic town of Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This park offers a quiet escape from these popular tourist destinations.

This park is the perfect spot for visitors seeking adventure. In the early spring, canoeing and kayaking the Little Missouri River is a popular activity. Traversing the 274-mile long Little Missouri River offers a unique perspective of the badlands from North Dakota’s only State Scenic River. Horseback riding, hiking, and biking are also popular activities. The park gives visitors access to the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail.

As of July 2026, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department has officially reopened Rough Rider State Park following a complete campground redesign that expands camping opportunities in one of the state's most popular destinations. The reimagined campground features modern campsites with water and electrical hookups, primitive campsites and upgraded equestrian camping with both individual and group sites equipped with horse corrals. The redesign increases the park's capacity, allowing more visitors to experience the beauty of the North Dakota Badlands while exploring nearby Medora and its many attractions.

The campground is equipped with vault toilets, a shower house and an RV dump station. Some construction will continue this season as the new comfort station is completed. The reopening comes during a milestone summer for Medora and provides visitors with another convenient place to stay while enjoying western North Dakota. Whether biking or hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail, horseback riding through the North Dakota Badlands or simply relaxing around the campsite, Rough Rider State Park is once again ready to welcome campers.