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Theodore Roosevelt · December
December is one of the best times to visit Theodore Roosevelt — about as busy as November, about as busy as January.
Expect light crowds (1/10), highs near 28°F, and about 8.5 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 1% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
December draws about 0% of Theodore Roosevelt’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, FAIRFIELD, ND US
What's open
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This applies to all units of the park; North Unit, South Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch Unit. Even when entrance stations and visitor centers are closed, the park itself remains open. Remember to check current conditions for any weather related closures.
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Directions to the Petrified Forest trailhead have changed. Please use the approved legal route from I-94, Exit 10 toward Camels Hump Lake and follow the clearly marked posts. This update helps maintain good cooperation with neighbors and respect park boundaries. For precise directions, use the link provided.
Details on nps.gov →On all maps used on mobile devices, use the following address to reach the South Unit Visitor Center and Entrance Station 201 East River Road N. Medora, ND 58645
Starting May 1, Theodore Roosevelt National Park will accept only credit cards, debit cards, or digital payments for entrance fees, campground fees, and Interagency Passes. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted.
Details on nps.gov →Source: NPS Data API
Context
FAQ
December rates 1/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park — about 1% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 2,134.
In December, Theodore Roosevelt averages a high of 28°F and a low of 10°F, with about 0.0 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Theodore Roosevelt costs $30 (Valid for 7 days for all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.).
Theodore Roosevelt is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-December, Theodore Roosevelt gets about 8.5 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 7:33 AM and sunset around 4:04 PM.