National parks near Killdeer, North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the closest national park to Killdeer, North Dakota — 42.9 mi (69 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 26 min behind the wheel.
Theodore Roosevelt makes a full day trip — leave early.
Nothing near Killdeer gates the entrance itself, but 3 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Killdeer has a population of about 1,254.
National parks near Killdeer
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 42.9 mi (69 km) | 1 hr 26 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Badlands National Park | 251 mi (403 km) | 6 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 261 mi (420 km) | 6 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 265 mi (427 km) | 6 hr 43 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Riding Mountain National Park | 271 mi (436 km) | 6 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yellowstone National Park | 418 mi (673 km) | 10 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 456 mi (734 km) | 11 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Voyageurs National Park | 463 mi (746 km) | 11 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Albert National Park | 482 mi (776 km) | 11 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 507 mi (816 km) | 12 hr 27 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Killdeer
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry | Park entry | Timed reservation |
| Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Grand Teton | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Voyageurs | Voyageurs National Park Houseboat Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Killdeer
Within reach of Killdeer, 27 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 5 at Theodore Roosevelt, 5 at Yellowstone, and 5 at Rocky Mountain, plus 3 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Killdeer are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Badlands → Wind Cave | 50.5 mi (81.3 km) | 1 hr 39 min |
| Theodore Roosevelt → Badlands | 227 mi (366 km) | 5 hr 50 min |
Planning a trip from Killdeer
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Dunn County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Killdeer?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is about 42.9 mi (69 km) from Killdeer, roughly 1 hr 26 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Killdeer?
Yes — Theodore Roosevelt National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Killdeer?
10 parks are within reach of Killdeer, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Killdeer?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 3 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits, and Voyageurs National Park Houseboat Permits. Farther than a day trip, Rocky Mountain National Park still needs a timed-entry permit to drive in. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Killdeer?
Recreation.gov lists 27 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Killdeer. They are spread across 7 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Killdeer?
For Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.