North Dakota has no commercial drive-thru safari parks. It does have two great places to see free-roaming bison from your car: a national park in the Badlands whose full scenic loop recently reopened, and a small game preserve near Devils Lake that Theodore Roosevelt set aside in 1904. The game preserve’s auto tour closes for the season within days.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park – South Unit Scenic Loop (Medora)
- White Horse Hill National Game Preserve (Fort Totten / Devils Lake)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK – SOUTH UNIT SCENIC LOOP DRIVE
Type: National Park with a paved 36-mile scenic loop through the North Dakota Badlands, where bison and wild horses roam free
Location: South Unit Visitor Center, 315 2nd Ave, Medora, ND 58645 (right off I-94, western North Dakota)
Phone: (701) 623-4466
Website: nps.gov/thro · Fees & Passes · Alerts & Road Conditions
Social Media: Facebook · Instagram (@theodorerooseveltnps)
Size: The South Unit covers 46,000 acres. The full 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive reopened in late 2025 after a six-year, $51 million reconstruction from erosion damage. It’s drivable as a complete loop for the first time since 2019.
Animals:
- About 300 American bison
- A historic herd of feral (wild) horses
- Black-tailed prairie dog towns, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and golden eagles
Admission:
- Private vehicle: $30 (7 days)
- Motorcycle: $25
- Walk-in or bicycle: $15 per person
- Park annual pass: $55
- America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
- The park has been cashless since May 1, 2026. Cards and mobile pay only.
- Free Entrance Days: October 27 and November 11
Hours:
- Open 24 hours, year-round. The South Unit runs on Mountain Time.
- Parts of the loop can close in winter for snow and ice. Check road conditions before you go.
Rules:
- Stay at least 25 yards from bison and horses. Never approach them for photos.
- Pets are allowed in vehicles and on roads, but not on trails.
Tips:
- Start at dawn: bison often walk right on the road early in the morning, then move to the hills by midday.
- Use the pull-outs at Skyline Vista, Wind Canyon, and Boicourt Overlook.
- Medora is right at the gate and has lodging and food.
- The North Unit (about 70 miles north, near Watford City) has its own 14-mile Scenic Road with bison and longhorn cattle. The same $30 pass covers both units.
WHITE HORSE HILL NATIONAL GAME PRESERVE
Type: USFWS national game preserve with a free self-guided auto tour through a fenced bison and elk enclosure. It was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 and was formerly called Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
Location: Off ND Hwy 57, near Fort Totten / St. Michael, ND (on the south shore of Devils Lake, about 12 miles south of the city of Devils Lake)
Phone: Visitor Center (701) 766-4272. Call for a recording of current hours.
Website: fws.gov – White Horse Hill · Visit Us · Friends of White Horse Hill
Social Media: No dedicated accounts
Size: The preserve covers 1,674 acres of oak woodland, prairie, and wetland. The paved auto tour route is about 4–4.5 miles, one-way.
Animals: A managed herd of about 20–25 bison, about 15–30 Rocky Mountain elk, a black-tailed prairie dog colony, white-tailed deer, foxes, bald eagles, and 250+ bird species
Admission: FREE
Hours:
- Preserve: Daily 8 AM – sunset, year-round. Gates may close up to 30 minutes before sunset.
- ⚠️ The auto tour runs from the second Saturday in May through about the second week of October, so it closes for the season within days. Call to confirm before you drive out.
- Visitor Center: Daily 12 – 4 PM in June – August, and some weekends. Call to verify hours.
Rules:
- You must stay in your vehicle inside the fenced enclosure (past the cattle guards).
- The paved road is slippery when wet, and speed bumps protect the wildlife.
Tips:
- Climb the stairs at the White Horse Hill Overlook for panoramic views.
- Stop at the Devils Lake Vista and the prairie dog town platform.
- The separate nature trail (about 2 miles, plus a ¼-mile paved accessible loop) is fenced off from the bison and elk.
- Driving the loop twice often turns up animals you missed the first time.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Minnesota · South Dakota · Montana