After six years, Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s scenic loop reopens for RVers

After more than six years of closures, RVers heading to Theodore Roosevelt National Park scenic loop can finally drive the full circuit again. A major section of the 21-mile South Unit road reopens Tuesday, Nov. 25, restoring access to some of the park’s best wildlife viewing and panoramic Badlands scenery.

Bad times in the Badlands led to closure…

The closure began after storms, unstable Badlands terrain and aging infrastructure caused a 150-foot stretch of the road to slump in 2019. This eventually created sinkholes and other failures. Since then, visitors had to turn around well before top viewpoints like Scoria Point Overlook and Badlands Overlook. Local shop owner and tour leader Chris Kman summed up the loss: “It’s a nice, scenic place. It’s been missed.” She calls Scoria Point one of her favorite places in the park and says the nearby view is one where “the sky goes on forever.”

… and Park Service persevered to the reopening

The Park Service rebuilt a six-mile segment, wrapping up work in October after about two-and-a-half years of construction. Crews completed full road reconstruction, added new drainage systems, stabilized slopes, regraded the alignment and resurfaced the pavement. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven highlighted the challenge of the terrain: “There’s just an incredible amount of engineering that’s gone into it because you’re building this road on the side of these steep bluffs.” He added that visitors will notice stone riprap, wire suspension and concrete work blending into the landscape while holding the roadway in place.

The $51 million project drew almost all its funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. The rebuilt section traces back to the Civilian Conservation Corps era, with the full loop completed in 1968. Persistent soil failures, storm damage, higher-than-expected contractor bids and the park’s long winters and short summers pushed costs higher and stretched out the timeline.

RVer Tips: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Loop

The National Park Service confirms that the loop can accommodate large RVs and vehicles with trailers.

• Loop length: 21 miles (South Unit), fully paved.
• Road access: RVs and trailers allowed; expect narrow sections, sharp curves, and moderate grades.
• Turnarounds: Designated large-vehicle turnarounds at key overlooks; use if you feel uncomfortable on tight curves.
• Wildlife: Watch for bison, prairie dogs, wild horses, and other animals on the road. Drive slowly.
• Campgrounds:
  • Cottonwood Campground (South Unit): Primitive sites, seasonal water fill station, no hookups.
  • Juniper Campground (North Unit): Primitive sites, no hookups; group site available.

Stay Limits: Maximum 14 nights May–September, 30 nights per calendar year.

• Timing: Summer and fall offer best road conditions; winter may close sections.

Presidential library may draw attention, too

With the reopening, RVers can once again complete the entire paved loop. This is just in time for increased visitor interest when the nearby Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opens on July 4. Library spokesperson Matt Briney said, “The next thing that they’re going to want to do, if they haven’t already done it, is to go through the park.”

More than 700,000 people visit the park each year, making it North Dakota’s top attraction. With the loop restored and campgrounds ready for RVers, travelers can now enjoy uninterrupted overlooks, wildlife viewing, and one of the region’s classic drives—freshly reinforced beneath their wheels.

Sources include ABC News, National Park Service

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