Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a National Park in North Dakota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 5 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Theodore Roosevelt
We matched 5 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Theodore Roosevelt. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (5)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Theodore Roosevelt the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:36 AM | 8:26 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:31 PM | 239° | 8h 55m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:18 PM | 252° | 10h 18m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:59 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:06 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:42 PM | 286° | 13h 36m |
| May | 5:19 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:23 PM | 300° | 15h 05m |
| June | 4:58 AM | 5:46 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:52 PM | 307° | 15h 54m |
| July | 5:14 AM | 6:00 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:47 PM | 304° | 15h 33m |
| August | 5:51 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:07 PM | 292° | 14h 15m |
| September | 6:32 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:08 PM | 275° | 12h 36m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:08 PM | 258° | 10h 55m |
| November | 6:58 AM | 7:46 AM | 3:33 PM | 4:20 PM | 243° | 9h 22m |
| December | 7:34 AM | 8:26 AM | 3:13 PM | 4:05 PM | 236° | 8h 31m |
Computed for the park's reference point (47.1778, -103.4300); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Theodore Roosevelt, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:22 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.0 | 10° |
| April | 3:17 AM – 4:07 AM | 0.8 | 13° |
| May | 1:25 AM – 2:55 AM | 1.5 | 14° |
| June | 11:52 PM – 1:52 AM | 2.0 | 14° |
| July | 11:26 PM – 12:46 AM | 1.3 | 14° |
| August | 10:10 PM – 10:50 PM | 0.7 | 12° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $50.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in the Badlands of western North Dakota. There are three units to the park. The South Unit entrance is in the town of Medora, ND off of Interstate 94 exits 24 and 27. The North Unit entrance is on Highway 85 approximately 14 miles south of Watford City, ND. The remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit sits roughly in the middle of the North and South Units and is accessed via gravel roads. Consult park staff for directions to the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
MT/ND
ND