National park · United States
Little Missouri National GrasslandsLittle Missouri National Grassland
Entry is free: no gate, no fee, no permit for day use. Drive in from Medora or Dickinson, walk the Maah Daah Hey Trail for an hour or a week, and camp free on most grassland acres. Go May–June or September–early October; July–August afternoons run 32–38°C (90–100°F) with no shade.Entry is free: no gate, no fee, no permit for day use. Drive in from Medora or Dickinson, walk the Maah Daah Hey Trail for an hour or a week, and camp free on most grassland acres. Go May–June or September–early October; July–August afternoons run 90–100°F (32–38°C) with no shade.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,148 km² (1,602 sq mi)1,602 sq mi (4,148 km²)
approximate
Established
1960
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 4,148 km² (1,602 sq mi)1,602 sq mi (4,148 km²)
- About 1.025 million acres (roughly 4,148 km²) in two units, north and south of the national park; boundaries are not contiguous and interleave with private, state and other federal land (check).
- Established
- 1960
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Medora
The Little Missouri National Grasslands cover about 1.03 million acres of western North Dakota, managed by the US Forest Service as two units that wrap around Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There is no entrance station and no day-use fee. The draw is the same badlands scenery as the park, with far fewer people, plus the 120-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail, free dispersed camping, and prairie wildlife from bison-free herds of elk and pronghorn to prairie dog towns. Come for the quiet and the trail; skip it if you want paved viewpoints, ranger talks and a visitor centre.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1960.
Size and age
4,148 km² (1,602 sq mi)1,602 sq mi (4,148 km²) · national park since 1960
About 1.025 million acres (roughly 4,148 km²) in two units, north and south of the national park; boundaries are not contiguous and interleave with private, state and other federal land (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Medora.
Why go
- Free access: no entrance fee, no gate, no day-use permit on grassland acres.
- The Maah Daah Hey Trail runs about 120 miles across the grasslands and through the national park's two units.
- Dispersed camping is allowed on most grassland acres at no cost, unlike the park's designated campgrounds.
- Wildlife without the crowds: elk, pronghorn, mule and white-tailed deer, coyotes, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie dog towns.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecAvoid
- JanHighs around −5 to 0°C (23 to 32°F); wind and drifting snow close some gravel roadsHighs around 23 to 32°F (−5 to 0°C); wind and drifting snow close some gravel roads
- FebColdest stretch; short daylight
- MarMud season; unpaved roads soft and rutted
- AprCool and greening; snow possible into early April
- MayMild, green, wildflowers; trails firm
- JunLong days; heat builds late in the month
- JulHot and exposed; afternoon storms
- AugHottest month; start walks at sunrise
- SepCooling, clear, best all-round walking
- OctDry and mild early; frost by late October
- NovQuiet and often clear; hunting season active
- DecCold, icy; services in Medora largely closed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn and mule deerApr–Jun, Sep–Nov · Most visible at dawn and dusk on open grassland. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| ElkSep–Nov · Bugling in autumn; mostly in the north unit area. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Prairie dog townsApr–Oct · Active in daylight; the easiest wildlife to see. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sharp-tailed grouse and pheasantsApr–May, Sep–Oct · Early morning along field edges. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| RattlesnakesMay–Sep · Prairie rattlers sun on trails; watch where you put hands and feet. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Medora
Drive I-94 exit 24, then gravel and paved county roads into the south unit; trailheads signed off the Medora–Dickinson road.
10–30 min
From Dickinson
I-94 east to the grasslands office and trail access points; the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association is based in Dickinson.
35–50 min
From Bismarck
I-94 west about 210 km (130 mi) to Dickinson, then local roads.I-94 west about 130 mi (210 km) to Dickinson, then local roads.
2.5–3 h
From Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The grasslands border both park units; the Maah Daah Hey Trail crosses the park, where bikes are not allowed.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| South unit grasslands | Rolling badlands, prairie dog towns and the southern Maah Daah Hey Trail, wrapping around the park's south unit. | Open; free; some roads impassable when wet. |
| North unit grasslands | The larger, emptier northern block around the park's north unit, with longer gravel drives. | Open; free; fuel and services far apart. |
| Maah Daah Hey Trail corridor | About 120 miles of marked trail from Sully Creek State Park north through both park units. | Open to hikers, bikers and horses; bikes must detour around the national park. |
| Sully Creek State Park | State park at the southern trailhead, with a campground and river access. | State fee for camping; day use free. |
Sketch map
- 1Medora · Town≈46.914, -103.525Map ↗
- 2Sully Creek State Park · Trail≈46.889, -103.536Map ↗
- 3Dakota Prairie Grasslands office, Dickinson · Headquarters≈46.879, -102.790Map ↗
- 4Maah Daah Hey Trail, south section · Trail≈46.950, -103.450Map ↗
- 5Grassland overlook, north unit area · Viewpoint≈47.590, -103.300Map ↗
- 6Little Missouri River crossing · Ranger station≈47.099, -103.537Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate, centred on the grassland between Medora and the north unit, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day use on grassland acres | Free | person | No entrance fee and no gate; the grasslands are free to enter. |
| Maah Daah Hey Trail use | Free | person | Free to hike, bike or ride; no trail pass (check). |
| Dispersed camping on grassland | Free | night | Free on most acres; some developed campgrounds charge a small fee (check). |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park entrance | US$15–30 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; charged only if you drive into the national park, not the grasslands. |
| Sully Creek State Park camping | US$15–30 | night | 2026 estimate; state-run site at the southern trailhead near Medora. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Day use no permit
Dispersed camping no permit
Commercial or group use permit or guide
Hunting permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$15–30
- US$15–30
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on US Forest Service — Little Missouri National Grassland before you go.
Park rules
- Fossils and artefacts
- Do not collect vertebrate fossils, arrowheads or other artefacts on federal land; it is illegal. Photograph and report finds.
- Bikes in the national park
- Bicycles are not allowed on trails inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park; the Maah Daah Hey Trail detours around park boundaries.
- Camping
- Dispersed camping is allowed on most grassland acres; no camping inside the national park except in designated campgrounds.
- Fires
- Check current fire restrictions before any campfire; bans are common in summer and autumn.
- Private land
- The grasslands interleave with private and state land. Stay on marked roads and trails; do not cross fences.
- Drones
- Not allowed over the national park; check Forest Service rules before flying over grassland (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Medora
Motels, cabins and campgrounds at the south entrance; the main base for both the grasslands and the park.
Near the park
Dickinson
Full-service town about 55 km (34 mi) east with chain hotels, fuel and groceries.Full-service town about 34 mi (55 km) east with chain hotels, fuel and groceries.
In the park
Dispersed camping on grassland
Free camping on most acres; no water, no toilets, pack everything out.
Near the park
Sully Creek State Park
Campground and river access at the southern Maah Daah Hey trailhead.
Safety
Heat and no shade high
Getting lost on unmarked grassland medium
Wet gravel roads medium
Rattlesnakes low
Hunting season medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The grasslands have no visitor centre, paved loop or accessible trail network; most access is on gravel and dirt.
- The national park next door has paved viewpoints and accessible facilities; use it if you need step-free options.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out all rubbish; there are almost no bins on grassland acres.
- Use existing campsites and tracks so new scars do not form in the prairie.
- Keep distance from prairie dog towns and nesting birds; do not feed wildlife.
- Buy fuel and food in Medora or Dickinson so gateway towns keep benefiting from visitors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Little Missouri National Grasslands?
Nothing. There is no entrance station and no day-use fee on grassland acres, and dispersed camping is free on most of them. You only pay if you drive into Theodore Roosevelt National Park (about US$15–30 per vehicle, 2026 estimate) or camp at a state or developed campground.
What are the best hikes in Little Missouri National Grasslands?
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is the main route: about 120 miles in total, but you can walk any 3–10 km section near Medora or the north unit in a couple of hours. Other options are prairie dog town loops off gravel roads and riverside walking along the Little Missouri. There is no single famous summit hike; the appeal is open badlands walking.
When is the best time to visit Little Missouri National Grasslands?
May–June and September–early October. Days are mild, trails are firm and the light is good. July–August is hot and shadeless, with afternoon storms; November–March is cold and some roads close.
Do I need a permit or pass?
No pass for day use or dispersed camping. A North Dakota hunting licence is needed to hunt, and commercial or large group use needs permission from the Dakota Prairie Grasslands office.
Can I camp for free?
Yes, on most grassland acres. There is no water, no toilet and no bin, so bring everything and pack it out. Camping inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park is only allowed in designated campgrounds.
Is it the same as Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
No. They are separate: the grasslands are Forest Service land and free, the park is National Park Service land with an entrance fee. The grasslands wrap around both park units, and the Maah Daah Hey Trail crosses the park.
Can I drive the grasslands in a normal car?
On the paved and maintained gravel roads, yes. After rain, clay sections turn slick and can trap a 2WD car, so check conditions before turning onto unmaintained tracks.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go