Ultimate Badlands National Park Guide

Are you planning a trip to Badlands National Park? This ultimate guide to visiting Badlands National Park will cover everything you need to know to organize an itinerary that’s perfect for you.

Badlands National Park is shockingly beautiful. One half of the park is a landscape full of colorful spires, pinnacles, and hoodoos, while the other half is a vast land of sweeping sage-colored grasslands.

We extensively explored Badlands National Park as part of a four month long road trip of the northern Midwest states covering Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Badlands was definitely a highlight of this road trip and in my opinion, a highly underrated national park in the United States.

We visited during the summer holidays and couldn’t believe how uncrowded the park was. It was so relaxing to drive around and there was no need to compete for parking spots like at other national parks such as Yellowstone or Grand Teton where we had just come from.

While most visitors usually only set aside half a day to visit Badlands National Park, I’d like to share with you that this park deserves at least an entire day to be fully appreciated, but two days would be my recommendation.

Here is everything to know about visiting this enchanting national park and why you should dedicate a couple of days to Badlands on your itinerary.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VISITING BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Badlands National Park protects 244,000 acres of striking rock formations and expansive mixed-grass prairie lands. The area is home to a variety of wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and even one of America’s most endangered species, the black footed ferret. You’ll more than likely see all of the wildlife just mentioned except for the ferret. They are very shy and sneaky little critters!

Badlands National Park has three different units, the North Unit, the South Unit, and the Palmer Creek Unit but most visitors stick to only visiting the North Unit since it’s easily accessed off I-90 in South Dakota.

The North Unit has three entrances, the Pinnacles Entrance which is closest to Wall, the Interior Entrance which can be access from Highway 44, and the Northeast Entrance which can be accessed off I-90 coming from the east.

What Are Badlands And How Did They Get Their Name?

Badlands are a type of terrain where soft sedimentary rocks have been extensively eroded. They commonly feature ravines, gullies, buttes, and hoodoos and have minimal vegetation.

You can find Badlands in many other parts of the U.S. such as in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota or Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and even in other countries. Some well-known examples include Drumheller in Alberta, Canada and Goreme National Park in Turkey.

So then who came up with the name badlands? The Badlands aren’t really all that bad right? Well, the Lakota people were the first to call this part of South Dakota “mako sica” which translates to “land bad”, presumably because the land was bad for agricultural use.

Then nineteenth century French fur trappers later referred to this area as “mauvaises terres a traverser,” or “bad lands to travel across” because of the frustrating, maze-like landscape. So it was a consensus, the area would become known as badlands.

Where Is Badlands National Park?

Badlands National Park is located just off I-90 sixty miles east of Rapid City (1hr) and two hundred and seventy miles from Sioux Falls (4hrs). The Pinnacles Entrance is only a ten minute drive from the town of Wall along State Route 240 (Glenn Street).

• Rapid City – 60 miles
• Sioux Falls – 270 miles
• Bismarck – 300 miles
• Theodore National Park – 300 miles
• Devil’s Tower – 165 miles
• Minneapolis – 500 miles

How To Get To Badlands National Park

If you need to fly in, the closest airport to Badlands is Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) in Rapid City. Rapid City has a very charming downtown area that has several great restaurants and a range of lodging options to choose from.

This city is also known as the gateway to the Black Hills so it’s a great place to base yourself for not only visiting Badlands, but also Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore National Monument, and Crazy Horse Memorial.

We actually had to stay in Rapid City thanks to a freak blizzard that rolled in after a week of temperatures in the triple digits! It was wild to say the least. But it gave us a reason to stay in the area a little longer and get to know Rapid City.

If you need to rent a car from Rapid City, check out Enterprise, our preferred car rental company, or use this website to compare car rental prices between other car rental companies.

Badlands National Parks and Road Trips

If you’re planning on visiting Badlands National Park on a road trip, here are a few driving itineraries that I recommend:

• 7 Day South Dakota Road Trip (This road trip covers South Dakota’s Black Hills and visits Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Devil’s Tower).
• Ultimate Washington To Minnesota Loop Road Trip (This road trip explores the northern Midwest states along the I-90 and the I-94).
• Seattle To Milwaukee & Chicago Driving Itinerary (A 5 day driving itinerary covering the highlights between Seattle and Milwaukee)

When Is The Best Time To Visit Badlands National Park

Weather in Badlands National Park is highly variable with temperatures ranging from 116 degrees in summer to -40 degrees in winter. This is a land of extremes where hot dry weather, violent thunderstorms, hailstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes are possible.

July and August are the busiest months in the park and the best time of year to visit. These are also the hottest months in the park. If you do plan to visit in summer, be prepared for extreme heat as there is no shade or trees in the park. Also keep in mind thunderstorms are a common occurrence during summer.

Always remember that weather conditions in Badlands are not predictable so be sure to check the forecast ahead of your trip (you can check the weather forecast in Badlands National Park here).

As an example, we had just spent a week in Custer State Park where it had been over one hundred degrees for five days straight and then woke up on our last morning to snow. By the time we got to Badlands National Park, the weather was still quite cool and definitely sweater weather. And this was in August!

Even though summer is the busiest time of year, the park never felt crowded to us when we visited in August. Badlands is actually quite big and visitors were spread out through the park.

If you would prefer to avoid summer heat and crowds, spring and autumn are a good time of year to visit when there are less people in the park and temperatures are cooler, but keep in mind spring can bring heavy rains (particularly in June) and snow is possible in autumn.

Winters in the park are miserably cold and extremely windy. Snow and blizzards are very likely. Also keep in mind that Cedar Pass Lodge and Restaurant does not operate during the winter.

Best Things To Do In Badlands National Park

Visit A Prairie Dog Town

There’s no doubt that the Prairie dogs are the park favorite among most visitors to Badlands. They are so adorable and very entertaining to watch.

The prairie dog species found in Badlands is the black-tailed prairie dog which is the most common prairie dog species.

Prairie dogs were once a major part of the American landscape and their original range extended from Canada to Mexico. It is estimated that over five billion prairie dogs roamed the American plains prior to the 1800s, but with the expansion of white settlement in the American West, the prairie dogs home range shrunk to 5% of its initial size.

There are five species of prairie dogs and they are either threatened or endangered so count yourself lucky to be able to experience seeing them here at Badlands.

Prairie dogs at Badlands can be found throughout the park. Some of the best places to see them include the Burns Basin Overlook, Roberts Prairie Dog Town, and Sage Creek Campground.

We saw plenty of them along Sage Creek Rim Road and got out to take some photos. They were very curious of us and we even had one come up and bite our GoPro while we were sitting down filming them.

Spot Wildlife In Badlands National Park

If you’re anything like me, spotting wildlife is always an exciting ordeal. I always keep binoculars under the seat in the car specifically for road trips and wildlife spotting!

Badlands did not disappoint when it came to viewing local wildlife and we were easily able to find bison and bighorn sheep, in addition to the Prairie dogs.

The animals in the park are especially fun to photograph since the landscape here is so different to other national parks. For example, the grasslands are especially photogenic and make a great backdrop to pictures of wildlife as you can see from the photo above I took of Bighorn sheep in the park.

To find Bighorn sheep, keep your eyes peeled as you drive in from the Pinnacles entrance and look at the tops of the rolling green hills on the left side. They are also commonly seen near the Pinnacles overlook and along the Castle Trail.

To find Bison, take a drive down Sage Creek Rim Road which overlooks the Badlands Wilderness Area. You may also see mule deer, coyotes, painted turtles, and rattlesnakes.

Hike The Notch Trail

Hiking the Notch Trail is a must if you are visiting Badlands National Park. This moderately difficult trail meanders through a canyon surrounded by strange rocky formations, involves climbing a ladder, and hiking along a ledge to a “notch” where you can witness spectacular views of the Badlands landscape and of the White River Valley.

The trail is only 1.5 miles roundtrip so is suitable for all fitness levels, however it does involve climbing a log ladder but it is really not that difficult.

Kids will certainly love this hike because it’s such a fun labyrinth to navigate through and the reward at the end will certainly surprise you with its beauty.

We hiked this trail at sunset so the skies were a bright pink and purple color which made the views even more stunning.

Drive The Badlands Loop Road

The best way to see Badlands National Park is along the Badlands Loop Road, otherwise known as State Route 240.

This scenic drive provides incredible vistas of the park along its entire length. You’ll more than likely want to pull over every chance you get and fortunately there are many overlooks and pull-outs along the way.

In fact, there are twelve overlooks where you can see brightly colored mounds, towering spires, canyons filled with hoodoos, and South Dakota’s vast grassy plains.

Some of the overlooks have information boards and some provide access to hiking trails and boardwalks.

If you are on a tight schedule, you can take this scenic drive and see most of the park’s highlights in one to two hours.

I highly recommend taking a few minutes to get out of the car at some of the overlooks to truly appreciate how unique and wonderful this landscape is.

Hiking Trails In Badlands National Park

The majority of designated hiking trails in Badlands National Park are located in the southeast section of the north unit close to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

That’s not to say you can’t hike in other areas of the park. Unlike other national parks, at Badlands you don’t have to stay on trails, you are free to roam wherever you like! So feel free to choose your own adventure!!

Most of the official hikes in Badlands are short and easy with only one long trail being the ten mile long Castle Trail.

Here is a quick guide to the official hiking trails in Badlands.

Door Trail – 0.75 miles roundtrip (1.2 km)

This is an easy trail that runs along a boardwalk through a break in the Badland Wall known as “the Door” to an amazing view of the park. From here, you can continue along an unmaintained trail to roam among the interesting badland rock formations.

Window Trail – 0.25 miles roundtrip (0.4 km)

This is another short and easy trail which leads to a natural window in the Badlands Wall that overlooks an eroded canyon.

Cliff Shelf – 0.5 miles roundtrip (0.8km)

This is an easy to moderate hike which follows a boardwalk that loops through a small grove of junipers along the Badland Wall. There is a slight elevation gain because the trail climbs up a set of stairs but offers dramatic views of Badlands and the surrounding landscape along the way.

Notch Trail – 1.5 miles roundtrip (2.4 km)

This is a moderate trail that involves meandering through a canyon surrounded by strange rocky formations, climbing a ladder, and hiking along a ledge to a “notch” where you can witness spectacular views of the Badland landscape and of the White River Valley.

The trail begins at the same trailhead as The Door and Window trails. This was our favorite hike in the park and in my opinion, a can’t miss! Because it does involve climbing a rather tall ladder, it is not recommended for people with a fear of heights. Avoid hiking this trail during heavy rain.

Saddle Pass – 0.25 miles roundtrip (0.4km)

A short but steep climb up the Badlands Wall to an overview of the White River Valley. The trail ends where it connects with the Castle and Medicine Root Loop Trails.

Medicine Root Loop – 4 miles roundtrip (6.4 km)

A moderate trail that connects the Castle Trail with Saddle Pass Trail through mixed-grass prairie land.

Castle Trail – 10 miles roundtrip (16km)

This is the longest hike in the park but I wouldn’t call it strenuous. The trail begins at the parking area for the Door and Window trailheads and travels through a landscape full of interesting rock formations ending at the Fossil Exhibit Trail. To shorten this hike, take the Medicine Root Trail back when you reach the junction.

Where To Stay In Badlands National Park

I highly recommend staying inside Badlands National Park. Not only will it allow you to spend more time in the park, but you’ll also have the opportunity to catch a magical sunset or sunrise. There are two campgrounds in Badlands and one of them is free! Park lodging is also available.

Camping In Badlands National Park

Cedar Pass Campground has 96 campsites and offers both tent and RV sites with electric hookups. Each campsite has a picnic table with a shaded awning, and there is an onsite coin-operated shower available for use. The campground is open from early April through mid-October. Campsites are $23 per night for tent camping and $38 per night for RV sites.

Reservations for the Cedar Pass Campground can be made through contacting the Cedar Pass Lodge online or by phone at 877-386-4383. 

Sage Creek Campground is a free campground with 22 sites available for both tents and RVs however motor homes, trailers, and other recreational vehicles greater than 18 feet in length are prohibited.

Backcountry Camping is permitted in Badlands National Park and unlike other parks, you don’t need to obtain a permit here. As long as you set up camp at least a half mile away from a road or trail and aren’t visible to others, you are good to go. Park at a trailhead or overlook and be sure to leave a note on the dash stating when you will be returning. Remember to always pack out your trash! For more information on regulations and where to backcountry camp, click here.

Accommodation In Badlands National Park

The only accommodations in Badlands is at the Cedar Pass Lodge which is actually a collection of cabins. The cabins are very nice and were designed to resemble the original cabins built in 1928 at Cedar Pass.

All of the cabins are lined with pine from the Black Hills and the furniture is crafted from lodgepole pine by a family owned business in Montana. These cabins are very nice and come at a nightly rate of $189 plus tax. Note that pets are not allowed in cabins. Cedar Pass Lodge is open late April through late October.

Accommodation Outside Of The Park

The closest place to look for lodging outside of the park is in Interior which is only two miles from the southeast entrance although options are very limited. Your next options are in the town of Wall which is a ten minute drive from the Pinnacles entrance. Wall has several hotels and restaurants.

Rapid City is also an option which has nicer hotels to choose from and a lot more dining options but keep in mind it is a one hour drive away.

Here are our recommendations on where to stay close to Badlands National Park in Interior and Wall.

Badlands Motel & Campground

Badlands Motel and Campground offers basic no frills rooms and a campground that accommodates both RVs and tents. The best thing about this place is how close it is to the park’s southeast entrance. Views are spectacular and you can expect to hear coyotes, frogs, and other critters during the night. Camping here is a very cool experience! Fun fact: parts of the film Nomadland were filmed here.

KOA Badlands Campground is located a little further away from the southeast entrance than Interior but the sites are very nice and shaded by mature trees. Wifi is available and the kids will enjoy the miniature golf and swimming pool. Like all KOAs, this campground offers a free pancake breakfast and also has an onsite restaurant serving an early dinner.

Badlands Frontier Cabins is located in Wall and only a short ten minute drive to the Pinnacles Entrance of Badlands. These log cabins are cute, cozy, and feature kitchenettes and western style furnishings.

Best Western Plains Motels is walking distance to the touristy Wall Drug store and Main Street in Wall, and only a short drive to the Pinnacles Entrance of Badlands. This hotel features clean rooms, free breakfast, and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. We find that Best Westerns across the U.S. are typically the clean and affordable.

Where To Eat At Badlands National Park

There is a restaurant at Cedar Pass Lodge located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The restaurant is open for breakfast (8am-10am), lunch, and dinner (11am – 7pm). On the breakfast menu are breakfast burritos and biscuits and gravy, and for lunch beef burgers, chicken tenders, and club sandwiches. The specialty here is their ‘famous’ Indian tacos which are made with fry bread that is baked fresh daily and topped with buffalo meat, refried beans, cheese, olives, lettuce, and sour cream.

Wagon Wheel Bar is located in Interior three miles from the southeast entrance. While from the outside the establishment looks a little intimidating, we found that the staff were quite friendly. The menu is limited with a few different pizza options as well as bison burgers, cheese burgers, and ribeye steak sandwiches, however the food was actually quite good.

That wraps up this guide to visiting Badlands National Park. Hopefully it helps with planning your trip to Badlands. Here are a few additional tips and fun facts that might be helpful to planning out your itinerary.

Our Tips For Visiting Badlands National Park

• Be prepared for all kinds of weather while hiking.
• Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses while hiking in summer and bring plenty of water.
• Keep your distance while viewing wildlife, especially bison!
• Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and consider wearing sturdy boots for hiking.
• If you can’t stay overnight in the park, at least try to catch a sunset before you leave, trust me, you’ll be glad you waited.

Fun Facts About Badlands National Park

• Movies that were filmed at Badlands National Park include Nomadland, Dances With Wolves, and Armageddon.
• The area now known as Badlands National Park was once covered by a shallow sea.
• You don’t need a permit to backcountry camp in Badlands.

Other Places To Explore Near Badlands National Park

• Custer State Park
• Mt Rushmore National Monument
• South Dakota’s Black Hills
• Deadwood
• Devil’s Tower National Monument

Have you got any questions about visiting Badlands National Park? Ask us in the comment section below! If you’ve already been, we would love to know your thoughts, did you think the park was underrated like us? Please share with our other readers!