Badlands National Park
South Dakota Est. 1978

Badlands National Park

Prairie Canyon
242,756 Acres
1 million/year Annual Visitors
$30 Entry Fee
April through October Best Time to Visit
Caution: Navigation Details
National Park Service National Park
You drive across South Dakota expecting flat and then the ground just falls away. 244,000 acres of buttes and spires so sharply eroded they look like the planet is showing you its bones. The formations expose 75 million years of geological history in horizontal stripes. Every hour the light shifts and the whole place becomes a different photograph.

Our Badlands Articles

When to Visit Badlands

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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
82°
67°
Low
Open
Feb
79°
64°
Low
Open
Mar
69°
53°
Light
Open
Apr Best
56°
39°
Heavy
Open
May Best
43°
24°
Heavy
Open
Jun Best
33°
13°
Heavy
Open
Jul Best
30°
10°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
33°
13°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
43°
24°
Heavy
Open
Oct Best
56°
39°
Heavy
Open
Nov
69°
53°
Light
Open
Dec
79°
64°
Low
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)

Campgrounds in Badlands

Cedar Pass Campground

$37/night

Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Cedar Pass Campground has 96 level sites with scenic views of the badlands formations. This campground offers...

96 sites Reservable Cold running water, flush toilets, and covered picnic tables are available. A...
Reserve a Site

Sage Creek Campground

$0/night

Sage Creek Campground is a primitive campground. There is no charge to stay here and camping is available on a first come first serve basis....

22 sites Reservable Bison often wander through this primitive campground, located on the west side...

Trip Essentials

Gear and guides we recommend for Badlands. Affiliate links help support our work.

Getting to Badlands

Gateway Towns

  • Wall, SD
  • Interior, SD
  • Rapid City, SD

Nearest Airports

  • RAP Rapid City Regional 55 mi

Badlands Map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park