Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Unit

Scenic splendor in beautiful ND Badlands. Scenic drive, wildlife viewing, hiking, camping and ranger activities.

This more remote unit is the ideal location to seek solitude and observe nature. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer and mule deer, prairie dogs, and at least 186 species of birds. The scenic drive provides the sweeping vistas of one of the last remnants of wilderness in the Northern Great Plains.

The Scenic Byway offers spectacular views of the Badlands, Oxbow Overlook, prairie dog towns and the CCC shelter at the River Bend Overlook. 

The unit’s scenic drive is 14 miles and has turnouts with spectacular views and interpretive signs. Nature trails are self-guided through coulees and breaks. Visit the prairie dog town, Oxbow Overlook and the Edge of Glacier Pullout.

Click here for a map of the byway and trails within the North Unit.

Interior Announces NPS Free Fee Days 2026

The Department of the Interior announced the 2026 National Park Service free entrance days, providing opportunities for visitors to access national parks at no cost throughout the year. These designated days are intended to encourage visitation, promote public engagement with public lands, and highlight nationally significant holidays and milestones.

The 2026 National Park Service free fee days are as follows:

• February 16 Presidents Day
• May 25 Memorial Day
• June 14 Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday
• July 3 to July 5 Independence Day weekend
• August 25 National Park Service 110th Anniversary
• September 17 Constitution Day
• October 27 Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
• November 11 Veterans Day

Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these dates will apply to United States citizens and residents only. Nonresident visitors will be required to pay the standard entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.