Roundup Group Horse Camp
The Quick Take
This is the one campground in Theodore Roosevelt where you can bring your horse, and the park knows it. Roundup Group Horse Camp sits twelve miles north of Medora on East River Road, the last stretch on gravel, behind a locked gate whose combination you get at the entrance station. That gate is the whole point: your group gets the entire site to yourselves, no neighbors, no sharing. The trade-off is real -- no showers, no hookups, no cell service, and potable water is the only amenity you can count on. But you get private access to some of the best backcountry riding in the northern Great Plains, with off-trail travel permitted across the South Unit's rugged badlands. If you are hauling horses to the Dakotas and want a legitimate base camp rather than a trailhead parking lot, this is the only game in the park.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 1 sites are reservable.
Book at Theodore Roosevelt LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 50 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Uneven, gravel-packed site. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Checkout:Check in / check out time is noon.
Pro Tips
Reservations open the first business day of March at 8:00 AM Mountain time, and they go fast -- this is the only equestrian camp in the park. Have your dates picked and your account ready before the window opens. Do not wait until afternoon.
All forage must be certified weed-free, and rangers do check. Stock up before you leave home, because finding certified hay in Medora on short notice ranges from difficult to impossible. Bring more than you think you need.
The gravel road in is manageable but narrow with a horse trailer. Scout it on arrival before dark if you can. Also bring extra water containers -- the potable water is available but hauling it to your horses across the site gets old fast.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS Photo / Laura ThomasGetting There
Directions
Enter the South Unit in Medora. Roundup is about 12 miles north on East River Road. The last 1.5 miles of the route is gravel. Follow signs to the camp. The campground is gated. The lock combination is given to registered campers when they arrive at the park entrance.
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