North Unit Contact Station - Theodore Roosevelt National Park

At just over 24,000 acres (9700 ha), the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota preserves about one-third of the total area of the park. To reach the North Unit from Interstate 94, take exit 42 and head north on US-85 toward Belfield and Watford City. Drive 51 miles on US-85 before turning left into the park on Scenic Drive.

The current visitor center facility is in one end of a single-wide trailer. An adjacent trailer provides additional office space. The center houses an information desk, tiny bookstore, and one small table with a  few hands-on animal skulls and horns. The park movie is shown on a small wall-mounted flat screen monitor. There is no seating for watching the 17 minute production. Restroom facilities consist of a couple of portable toilets with no running water. Running water restrooms are available at the Juniper Campground 4.5 miles into the park.

The previous visitor center facility has been removed after its foundation was compromised due to the unstable, slumping landscape.

For trip planning purposes, please be aware that while the South Unit is on Mountain Time, the North Unit is on Central Time. We visited in August 2017.

Fee station

Visitor Center

Bookstore and giftshop

Exhibits

Park photography

Information desk

An entrance fee of $25 admits all the passengers of a single vehicle for seven days to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Other entrance fee options include a Theodore Roosevelt National Park Annual Park Pass for $50, an Every Kid in a Park 4th Grade Pass for free and a variety of America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes providing access to most national park, national forest, and BLM fee areas

• Annual Pass for $80
• Military Pass for free
• Lifetime Senior Pass for $80 or $20 annually for those age 62 and older
• Access Pass for free for visitors with a permanent disability

An entrance fee is not collected at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/thro.