Plan your visit with this Badlands National Park
This Badlands National Park travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. The landscape feels almost otherworldly, with striped rock formations rising out of mixed-grass prairie where you might spot bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and entire prairie dog towns.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included an easy way to spend one day in Badlands National Park, from driving Badlands Loop Road and hiking the Notch Trail to watching for wildlife along Sage Creek Rim Road and stopping at Wall Drug on the way out.
READ Mount Rushmore National Memorial Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
Badlands National Park at a Glance
Location: Southwestern South Dakota
Closest city: Rapid City
How many days: 1 day for the highlights
Best time to visit: Late spring and fall
Best scenic drive: Badlands Loop Road
Don’t miss: Notch Trail, Big Badlands Overlook, Yellow Mounds, Pinnacles Overlook, and Sage Creek Rim Road
Best for wildlife: Sage Creek Rim Road
Best sunrise: Big Badlands Overlook
Best sunset: Pinnacles Overlook
Where to stay: Cedar Pass Lodge, camp inside the park, or stay in Wall
Good to know: There is little shade, summer temperatures can top 100°F, and cell service is unreliable
Badlands National Park Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Badlands National Park
1. Drive Badlands Loop Road and stop at the overlooks
2. Hike the Notch Trail and climb its log ladder
3. Watch the sunrise from Big Badlands Overlook
4. Photograph the colorful Yellow Mounds
5. Look for bison and bighorn sheep along Sage Creek Rim Road
6. Watch prairie dogs at Roberts Prairie Dog Town
7. Walk the short Door and Window Trails
8. Stop at the Fossil Exhibit Trail
9. Watch the sunset from Pinnacles Overlook
10. Stop at Wall Drug before or after your day in the park
Where is Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is 244,000 acres of the Northern Great Plains located in the Southwest corner of South Dakota off I-90. The nearest city is Rapid City, South Dakota.
How to Get to Badlands National Park
Visit Badlands National Park as part of a road trip, or fly into Rapid City Regional Airport, rent a car, and drive one hour east. There are three entrances to the park: the Pinnacles Entrance (enter from the west), the Interior Entrance (enter from the south), and the Northeast Entrance (enter from the east). There is no public transportation in Badlands National Park.
Badlands National Park Entrance Fees and Park Hours
Badlands National Park is open 24 hours every day, year-round. A standard park pass is $30 for 7 days. If you are visiting several parks over a year, consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass for unlimited access to all of the U.S. National Parks.
How Many Days Do I Need at Badlands National Park
One day is enough to experience the highlights of Badlands National Park.
Accommodation in Badlands National Park
There are two campgrounds at Badlands National Park: Cedar Pass Campground and Sage Creek Campground. No permit is required for overnight backcountry camping in the North Unit, although backcountry campers are encouraged to register at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Backcountry camping is currently prohibited in the South Unit. Boondocking is available at Nomad View and Steer Pasture Overlook. Cedar Pass Lodge has cabin rentals inside the park boundaries.
I visited Badlands National Park on a day trip from Mount Rushmore. I stayed at the Powder House Lodge in Keystone and loved the property and restaurant.
Facts About Badlands National Park
- Badlands National Monument was authorized in 1929, officially established in 1939, and redesignated Badlands National Park in 1978.
- Approximately 1 million people visit Badlands National Park each year.
- The name Badlands comes from the Lakota, who first called it “mako sica”, or “land that is bad”.
- Badlands National Park has one of the densest collections of fossils in the world.
- Bison, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep live in the Badlands.
- The Oglala Lakota tribe lives in the South Unit of the Badlands; it is sacred land.
Best Time of Year to Visit Badlands National Park
Fall (September and October) is the best time to visit the Badlands. Summer (June, July, and August) is the busiest time of year at Badlands. Summer is very hot in the Badlands, expect temperatures reaching 100F. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in the summer months. Spring brings rain, hail storms and wind gusts up to 50 mph. Winter temperatures can be below freezing with snow cover.
Where to eat at Badlands National Park
Cedar Pass Lodge & Café is the only restaurant within the park, it is next door to the Visitor Center. Alternatively, bring a picnic lunch with you. There are several food options in nearby Wall.
Things to Do at Badlands National Park
Best Viewpoints in Badlands National Park
Sunrise: Door Trail, Big Badlands Overlook, Pinnacles Overlook, Panoramic Point.
Sunset: Conata Basin Overlook, Hay Butte Overlook, Pinnacles Overlook.
Popular Trails and Hikes at Badlands National Park
- Cliff Shelf Nature Trail: .5 mile loop
- Notch Trail: 1.3 miles RT
- Window Trail: .25 miles on a boardwalk
- Door Trailhead: .25 miles on a boardwalk
- Saddle Pass Trail: .5 RT, strenuous
- Castle Trail: 10 miles RT
- There are three main cycling routes in the park: Sage Creek Loop (21 miles), Northeast-Big Foot Loop (27 miles), and Northeast Loop (17 miles).
How to Spend One Day in Badlands National Park
Morning: Badlands Loop Road
Start early and drive Badlands Loop Road, stopping at the overlooks along the way. Don’t miss Big Badlands Overlook, Cedar Pass, Norbeck Pass, Panorama Point, Yellow Mounds Overlook, Conata Basin Overlook, and Pinnacles Overlook.
Late Morning: Hike the Notch Trail
Hike the roughly 1.5-mile round-trip Notch Trail through a canyon and up the famous log ladder. There are ledges and drop-offs, so skip this trail if you are uncomfortable with heights or the rocks are wet.
Afternoon: Sage Creek Rim Road
Drive Sage Creek Rim Road to Hay Butte Overlook and Roberts Prairie Dog Town. Keep an eye out for bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and prairie dogs along the way.
On Your Way Out: Wall Drug
Stop at Wall Drug for souvenirs, snacks, and a look around before continuing your South Dakota road trip.
If you have extra time: Add the short Door, Window, or Fossil Exhibit Trail before leaving the park.
Things to Do Near Badlands National Park
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Deadwood South Dakota
- Custer State Park and Needles Scenic Drive
- Wind Cave National Park
- Black Hills National Forest
Tips for Visiting Badlands National Park
- Badlands is an open hike park; you can hike off-trail anywhere inside the park.
- The Badland formations are more fragile than they appear; stay away from the edge.
- Remember, you must climb down from what you climb up, and the rocks can be slippery.
- Watch for rattlesnakes on trails.
- Do not feed the prairie dogs.
- Don’t rely on cell phone service; download the park map from the National Park Service app in advance.
- This park has very little shade; pack sunscreen, a hat, a reusable water bottle, and bug spray for this trip.
- Temperature changes are rapid; dress in layers.
- On-leash dogs are allowed in the campgrounds and picnic areas.
- Toilets are located at the Door/Window/Notch Trail, Fossil Exhibit Trail, the visitor center, and Pinnacles Overlook.
- The Badlands Trading Post has a Conoco gas station and a convenience store.
- It is illegal to remove anything from National Park land; if you find a fossil, tell a ranger.
- Horseback riding is allowed anywhere in the Badlands except on marked trails, roads, and developed areas.
- Stay at least 100 feet from wildlife. If an animal changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
- Check the National Park Service for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
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