North Unit Visitor Center - Theodore Roosevlt National Park

Our May 2021 visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park continued with a day trip to the North Unit. To reach the North Unit from Interstate 94, take exit 42 and head north on US-85 about 51 miles. Immediately after crossing the Little Missouri River, turn left (west) onto Scenic Drive to enter the park. There is no fee station, but visitors are asked to stop at the temporary visitor center located about ¼-mile west of US-85 on Scenic Drive to satisfy entrance fee obligations. The previous visitor center, which opened in 1991, was abandoned in 2013 due to shifting foundations and buckling floors that made it too unstable for occupancy by visitors or park personnel. The trailer that now functions as the visitor center was opened in 2015. While the previous permanent visitor center was only used for about 22 years, the current temporary facility has already been in service for over six years. While work has been completed on an Environmental Assessment for a new permanent facility, there seems to be little movement toward even establishing a timeline for selecting one of the four proposed sites, let alone design and construction activities. Even though the Great American Outdoors Act of 2021 provides a huge boost in infrastructure funding to the National Park Service, it seems the park service has been very slow in accessing any of the monies provided. I'm sure that is as frustrating to many park employees as it is to many visitors.

Although temporary in nature, the current visitor center provides all of the expected services for visitors. These include a fee station, an information desk, bookshop, ad hoc theater, and restroom facilities. The 17-minute park film, Refuge of the American Spirit, is of excellent quality and highly recommended.

Park information sign

North Unit information sign

Temporary visitor center

Restrooms

ADA ramp to the visitor center and offices

An entry fee of $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person is valid for seven consecutive days at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($80 for a lifetime), Access Pass (free with a documented disability), and Military Annual Pass (free for active-duty personnel). Also available is a Theodore Roosevelt National Park Annual Park Pass for $55.

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm.