News Release

Theodore Roosevelt National Park to move to cashless fee collection starting May 1

By transitioning to a cashless system, park staff will spend less time managing cash and more time helping visitors.

NPS / Sydney Honn

News Release Date: March 24, 2026 MEDORA, N.D. — Beginning May 1, 2026, Theodore Roosevelt National Park will transition to a fully cashless fee system. Entrance fees and other in-person sales will be processed using mobile payments, credit cards, or debit cards at park sales outlets. The transition to electronic payment is safer, reduces transaction times, and improves accountability.

Visitors who are only able to pay with cash may purchase a park pass from one of two local third-party vendors in the surrounding communities.

Also starting May 1, 2026, the park will require reservations for all campsites at Cottonwood Campground, Juniper Campground and Roundup Group Horse Camp. Reservations must be made through Recreation.gov, via the Recreation.gov mobile app, or by calling 877-444-6777. Cash and check payments will no longer be accepted for campsites at these campgrounds. Same day reservations will be available and may be made up to six months in advance for individual campsites through Recreation.gov.

Currently, cash sales account for less than 10% of in-person transactions in the park. During peak season, rangers spend up to eight and a half hours per day documenting, reporting, and transferring cash receipts. Transitioning to a cashless system will reduce the time staff spend managing cash, allowing them to focus more on visitor services, public engagement, and fee collection. The change will also help increase the amount of fee revenue available to support critical projects and enhance the visitor experience.

Entrance fees are a vital source of funding for national parks and are used to improve facilities and services. At Theodore Roosevelt National Park, entrance fee revenue has supported improvements such as campground comfort stations, trail rehabilitation projects, road maintenance and safety upgrades, and water and wastewater system improvements to enhance visitor services and preserve park infrastructure.

More information about visiting the park can be found at www.nps.gov/thro.