Planning a camping trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a lot simpler than planning one around Yellowstone. Instead of dozens of campground options spread across multiple busy gateway towns, most RV travelers here are choosing between two hubs: Medora for the South Unit and Watford City for the North Unit. Since the park is split into separate units, that is the easiest way to organize where to stay.
For a fuller look at what it’s like to visit the park, you can also listen to Episode 117 of the RV Miles Podcast and our trip to Theodore Roosevelt before you decide where to basecamp.
For most RVers, the South Unit is going to be the more popular and practical basecamp. Easily accessed from Interstate 94 in Medora, the South Unit Visitor Center is right at the entrance. The Painted Canyon Visitor Center sits just 7 miles east of Medora off I-94.
The South Unit also makes it easy to combine scenic driving, wildlife viewing, hiking, and town services without much extra driving. That convenience shows up at the campground, too: Cottonwood Campground fills to capacity each afternoon from mid-May through mid-September. By comparison, Juniper Campground in the North Unit only occasionally fills on summer weekends.
That does not make the North Unit less worthwhile. It just means the South Unit is usually the easier default for first-time visitors, shorter trips, and RVers who want campground access, park highlights, and town amenities all in one place.
South Unit / Medora Area Campgrounds
1. Cottonwood Campground
If you want to camp inside the park near Medora, this is the main option. Cottonwood sits about 5 miles from Medora and is the South Unit’s only campground. Most sites can accommodate tents and RVs, but there are no hookups. Half the sites are reservable and the rest are first come, first served. For RVers who want the classic in-park experience, this is your campground.
2. Roundup Group Horse Campground
This one is more specialized, but it still belongs on the list because it is one of the official camping options in the South Unit area. Roundup is designed for groups traveling with horses and is reservation-only, making it a niche option rather than a general campground for most RV travelers.
3. Medora Campground
Medora Campground is one of the most convenient full-service basecamps near the park. It sits on the west side of town near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and offers RV sites, tent sites, cabins, and covered wagons. If you want to stay close to the South Unit while also being near town, this is one of the strongest overall choices.
4. Boots Campground
Boots is a smaller Medora-area option that works well for RVers who want hookups outside the park. It is about a mile outside historic Medora and offers RV sites with water and electric hookups, plus cabins. It is a good fit for travelers who want quick access to the South Unit without giving up basic RV conveniences.
5. Buffalo Gap Campground
Buffalo Gap is one of the best public campground alternatives outside the park near Medora. Operated by the Forest Service, it offers paved campsites, picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, potable water, showers in season, and an RV dump station. It is also a strong basecamp for exploring both the park and the surrounding grasslands.
6. The Crossings Campground
Located in Belfield, The Crossings is a practical option for RVers who want hookups and easy interstate access. It is more of a convenience basecamp than an immersive park stay, but for some travelers that is exactly the right fit.
7. Trapper’s Campground
Also in Belfield, Trapper’s Campground is another RV-focused option for travelers who want hookups and highway convenience. It makes the most sense for travelers who want to stay east of Medora and keep access to the South Unit relatively easy.
North Unit / Watford City Area Campgrounds
8. Juniper Campground
Juniper is the North Unit’s only in-park campground and the most direct camping option for that side of the park. It sits near the North Unit entrance, most sites can work for tents and some RVs, but there are no hookups. Unlike Cottonwood, it only occasionally fills on summer weekends.
9. CCC Campground
CCC Campground is one of the strongest alternatives to Juniper near the North Unit. Operated by the Forest Service, it sits near the Little Missouri River across from the park and gives travelers another public campground option close to this quieter side of Theodore Roosevelt.
10. Watford City Tourist Park
Watford City is the main service town for the North Unit, and Tourist Park is one of the more straightforward RV options there. For campers who want fuel, groceries, food, and other town services close at hand, this is one of the easier North Unit-area choices.
11. RD RV Park
RD RV Park is another Watford City-area option for RVers who want full hookups rather than a more rustic campground. It is a practical choice for travelers using Watford City as their North Unit basecamp.
Which side of the park makes the best basecamp?
For most RV travelers, Medora and the South Unit are going to be the easiest fit. Interstate access is simpler, the town is right at the park entrance, and you can pair a campground stay with restaurants, visitor services, fuel, and easy access to the South Unit’s scenic drive and overlooks.
Medora also gets the edge simply because you can pair a park day with the long-running Medora Musical, one of the town’s signature summer attractions.
That makes the South Unit especially appealing for first-time visitors and shorter trips.
The North Unit still has a lot going for it. It tends to feel quieter, Juniper Campground is generally less competitive than Cottonwood, and nearby options like CCC Campground give you another solid public camping choice. If you have already done the South Unit or want a little more breathing room, the North Unit can be a great basecamp.
Final thoughts
Theodore Roosevelt National Park does not have the giant web of campground choices you find around Yellowstone, but that is part of the appeal. The list is smaller, easier to sort through, and mostly comes down to one simple decision: stay near Medora for the busier, more convenient South Unit, or stay near Watford City for the quieter North Unit experience. For RV travelers, that makes trip planning a whole lot easier.
If you want a closer look at the park before you book, our Parkography episode on Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a great companion piece, with more on what it feels like to explore the park and how to plan your visit.
