Est. 1978 | South Dakota | 242,755 acres

Deemed inhospitable and useless, early settlers dismissed the curiosities of Badlands National Park for more profitable grounds elsewhere, but today this region in central South Dakota is a prairie treasure. Broken into three units, the park’s bizarre rock formations, multitude of wildlife, and rich fossil beds lure people from the world over. Here visitors scale an eroded playground of sedimentary rock layers and wander peaceful grasslands among free-roaming bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs for a taste of prehistoric America.

Of the three units, the North Unit draws the most attention with a multitude of striped pinnacles and easy access points for hiking, driving and wildlife viewing. Both the Stronghold Unit to the southwest and the Palmer Creek Unit to the south lie in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The seasonal White River Visitor Center serves these two peripheral units, while the Ben Reifel Visitor Center presides over the North Unit.

The North Unit has three main entrances. The Interior Entrance from the south, the Northeast Entrance appropriately from the northeast and Pinnacles Entrance from the north. These three access points feed into Badlands Loop Road. Though not actually a loop, this 28-mile paved scenic drive winds through the park from Northeast Entrance to Pinnacles Entrance, offering stunning views of the badlands and abundant opportunities to spot wildlife. Splitting off of Loop Road, Sage Creek Rim Road continues west unpaved past Pinnacles into wilderness, eventually exiting the park and reconnecting with Highway 44 near the town of Scenic. Most of the attractions and trails are located on the eastern side in a 5 mile corridor between the Northeast Entrance and Interior Entrance.

Must-see highlights in Badlands

1. Big Badlands Overlook—Half a mile from the Northeast Entrance is Badland’s most stunning display of geology, Big Badlands Overlook. This viewpoint sits high on a rim granting wide views of striped, layered badlands. Hills upon hills of mesmerizing strata give a great first impression of the park. Consider visiting this destination for sunrise. The eroding spires reflect pink hues in the sky at the coming dawn.
2. Notch Trail—Just 2.5 miles south of Big Badlands Overlook, a wide parking lot on the eastern side of Loop Road provides access to Notch Trail, one of the more interactive paths in Badlands. Only 1.5 miles roundtrip, visitors wind through crumbling badlands, up a 100-foot log stairway to a viewpoint over the White River Valley. When wet, this trail can become slippery so use caution in navigating the ledges to the overlook point.
3. Castle Trail—Occupying the same parking lot as Notch Trail, Castle Trailhead invites visitors to press into the grassland ecosystem along the 5-mile point-to-point Castle Trail simply across the street. Relatively easy, this path wanders over badlands and around islands of rock reminiscent of castle walls in a sea of grass. This hike is especially beautiful in early morning light—a great option after sunrise at Big Badlands Overlook.
4. Pinnacles Overlook—24 miles down Loop Road, Pinnacles Overlook offers some of the best wildlife activity in the park. As a highpoint in the terrain, bighorn sheep can often be seen here crossing the road and venturing into the labyrinth of the badlands below.

Best time to visit Badlands

Badlands National Park has extreme annual swings. At its worst, temperatures can range from 116ºF to -40ºF. Spontaneous thunderstorms and the occasional tornado can descend upon the park. Much of this inclement weather occurs in the summer and winter, making spring and fall reasonable times to visit. In our estimation, late-May and early-June are the best times to visit Badlands National Park as wildflowers bloom, crowds are few and temperatures are pleasant.

• Spring (April to June): Spring is simply idyllic in Badlands. Wildlife is active, wildflowers blossom and temperatures hover around 60ºF during the day. However, May and June are the wettest months of the year. Though rainstorms are heavy and drenching they usually pass quickly in under an hour. Be watchful for weather patterns leading to tornados in the later spring months. June marks the beginning of peak tourism. To escape crowds consider visiting in May or April.
• Summer (July to September): Summer in Badlands is known for heat and dust. Temperatures can exceed 90ºF regularly and reach above 100ºF during the afternoons. Pack lots of water along the trip, whether hiking far or not as heatstroke and dehydration are serious threats in the park.
• Fall (October to November): With cooler temperatures, typically between 50°F and 70°F, autumn provides a comfortable environment for exploring. Fall also brings autumn colors to the landscape, though trees are few in the badlands. The first snow can come as early as late-October.
• Winter (December to March): Winter offers a good chance to have the park to yourself, but for good reason. Temperatures plummet below freezing for much of the season and days grow significantly shorter at this latitude. Winter also holds the driest months resulting in only 12–24 inches of annual snowfall. Because of this, roads conveniently do not shut down often, only temporarily in an occasional blizzard.

How long should I visit Badlands?

The highlights of Badlands National Park can be visited in 1–2 days. With Castle Trail being the longest route, many of the hikes can be easily combined in a day or two. Consider spending at least one night in the park to witness sunset and sunrise. Windows Trail is a great sunset spot and Big Badlands Overlook is spectacular at sunrise. With little light pollution, a clear night sky is also spectacular in the park. Overnight trips will also allow you to explore the badlands during the cooler morning or evening hours during the spring and summer heat.

Getting to Badlands

Badlands National Park is 75 miles east of Rapid City on Interstate 90. From I-90 head south at the town of Wall on State Highway 240 for 9 miles to reach Pinnacles Entrance. This road turns into Badlands Loop Road. Or continue on I-90 past Wall and turn south at exit 131 entering through the Northeast Entrance to catch the other side of SD-240/Loop Road.

The only reasonable airport in the area is Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP). Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) in the capitol city of Pierre can be twice the price and is nearly twice the distance to the east. Alternative airports are either too far away or too small to make the travel worth it.

Where to stay in Badlands

Lodging—The only lodging available in the park is Cedar Pass Lodge. The lodge is equipped with 27 hotel-style cabins located on the eastern side of the park near many top attractions acting as a convenient basecamp for daily forays into the park. These cabins are seasonal, only available mid-April through mid-October.

Campgrounds—Badlands contains 2 campgrounds within park boundaries—Cedar Pass Campground in the east of North Unit and Sage Creek Campground in the west of North Unit. Cedar Pass Campground managed by Cedar Pass Lodge can be reserved on Recreation.gov. As a rustic campground, Sage Creek Campground does not have potable water and vehicles or trailers over 18 feet long are prohibited. Accommodations here are completely free and all sites are designated first come, first served.

• Cedar Pass Campground—North Unit, 96 sites (RV and tent), open year-round
• Sage Creek Campground—North Unit, 22 sites (RV limitations and tent), open year-round

When should I book?

Though sites can be reserved 6 months in advance, camping at Badlands is not highly competitive, especially outside peak season (June–August). Reservations are generally available within a month of visitation. However, holidays and summer weekends will book up first so if your itinerary dates are not flexible, book as early as possible to secure your stay. Due to its limited number of cabins, Cedar Pass Lodge on the other hand can reach capacity for June dates as early as March. April, May and July do not fill up as quickly, but will reach capacity within a month of visitation.

How much should I budget?

A frugal 2-day trip to Badlands booked 2 months in advance can easily cost under $500 depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Rapid City	$300–$400
Car Rental	$40–$75/day (not including taxes/fees)
Cedar Pass Lodge	$250/night (not including taxes/fees)
Cedar Pass Campground	$37–$47/night (not including taxes/fees)
Sage Creek Campground	Free
Meals	$10–$20/meal
Entrance Fee	$30/vehicle

Packing list for Badlands

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Badlands National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without hiking shoes, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, layered clothing, raincoat, and a water bottle.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Badlands.

For more detailed information on Badlands National Park, visit the official park website.