National parks near Belcourt, North Dakota
Riding Mountain National Park is the closest national park to Belcourt, North Dakota — 141 mi (227 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 47 min behind the wheel.
A forested highland island in the Manitoba prairie, with lakes, wildlife, and Wasagaming townsite.
Riding Mountain National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Belcourt gates the entrance itself, but 3 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Belcourt has a population of about 2,078.
Riding Mountain National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Voyageurs National Park
Grasslands National Park
Badlands National Park
Wind Cave National Park
Best time to visit Riding Mountain National Park. Getting to Riding Mountain National Park.
National parks near Belcourt
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riding Mountain National Park | 141 mi (227 km) | 3 hr 47 min | Best as a weekend |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 215 mi (346 km) | 5 hr 32 min | Best as a weekend |
| Voyageurs National Park | 314 mi (505 km) | 7 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 362 mi (583 km) | 9 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 375 mi (604 km) | 9 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 405 mi (652 km) | 10 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Albert National Park | 455 mi (732 km) | 11 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Isle Royale National Park | 515 mi (829 km) | 12 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yellowstone National Park | 587 mi (944 km) | 14 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 627 mi (1009 km) | 15 hr 17 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Belcourt
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageurs National Park | Voyageurs National Park Houseboat Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Grand Teton National Park | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Belcourt
Within reach of Belcourt, 60 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 33 at Isle Royale National Park, 10 at Yellowstone National Park, 9 at Grand Teton National Park, and 5 at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, plus 3 more parks with fewer sites.
Beaver Island at Isle Royale National Park, Caribou Island at Isle Royale National Park, Chippewa Harbor at Isle Royale National Park, and Daisy Farm at Isle Royale National Park do not take reservations, so they never show up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
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
Riding Mountain 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.
Planning a trip from Belcourt
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 Rolette County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Belcourt?
Riding Mountain National Park. It is about 141 mi (227 km) from Belcourt, roughly 3 hr 47 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Belcourt?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Belcourt?
10 parks are within reach of Belcourt, and none of them are close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Belcourt?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 3 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Voyageurs National Park Houseboat Permits, Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, and Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Belcourt?
Recreation.gov lists 60 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Belcourt. They are spread across 7 of those parks. 33 of them are first-come, first-served, so they never appear as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Belcourt?
For Riding Mountain National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.