Badlands National Park Travel Guide
Badlands National Park is a landscape unlike any other in the Midwest. You’ll find jagged rock formations, sprawling prairies, and ancient fossils that tell stories of millions of years gone by. Whether you’re hiking along sun-scorched ridges, spotting bison and bighorn sheep, or stargazing under some of the darkest skies in the country, the Badlands is a place that captures both the imagination and the soul. This guide will walk you through the park’s must-see sights and tips to make the most of your visit.
where to stay
Wall, South Dakota is the closest city to the Badlands so you can easily find somewhere to stay there or you could stay in Rapid City, South Dakota, under an hour drive to the Badlands. My suggestion however is to camp at the Badlands Boondocking area. It’s some of the best wild camping I’ve done (free, no facilities). The views are phenomenal and I would recommend waking up for the sunrise!
Know ahead of time
Cost
You can purchase a 7-day pass for $30 for a private vehicle, $25 for a motorcycle, or $15 for anyone on a bike or going by foot. They are a cashless park so you have to use a credit card. My suggestion is to get the America the Beautiful pass if you plan on visiting more than one National Park within the year. It’s only $80 and gets you access to almost every National Park for one year!
How Many Days To Spend in the badlands
I would say you only need one day. Unless you experience a lot of tourists and traffic, it’s a pretty easy park to see everything in one day or even a half day and get some hiking in! I only spent 6 hours in it and saw all the overlooks, visited the visitor’s center, and did a few hikes!
Time of year to Visit
The best seasons to visit in my opinion are Fall or Spring. The weather is cooler and there are way less people. I visited in late March and the park was practically empty. I hear that summer time gets crazy and hot. Also, it’s best to avoid going when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is going on which typically happens the first couple weeks of August. As far as winter goes, a lot of things are closed at this time so this would be the worst time to visit.
what to Do
#1 – Sunrise at Big Badlands Overlook
If you aren’t camping at the Badlands Boondocking area, then I’d suggest catching the sunrise at the Big Badlands Overlook!
#2 – Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center
I love learning about National Parks so I always swing by the visitor’s center!
#3 – Best Overlooks to Stop At
I pull-over and stop at most overlooks that I come across but my favorites in the Badlands were, Panorama Point, Conata Basin, Yellow Hills, & Pinnacles. Also I would suggest packing a lunch and having a picnic at the Bigfoot Pass Overlook!
#4 – Watch Out for Wildlife
The Badlands are home to quite a few creatures, most notably: Bison, Bighorn Sheep, Prairie Dogs, Black-Footed Ferrets, and more! So keep an eye out when you’re exploring.
#5 – Sunset at Pinnacles Overlook
I caught a gorgeous sunset at the Pinnacles Overlook, but also hear Panorama Point is another great area to see the sunset!
#6 – Visit Wall Drug
Wall Drug is no doubt a tourist trap so if you’re going in the summer, be prepared for crowds but when I went in late March it was practically dead. Wall Drug is a combination of a drug store, gift shops, eateries, cowboy stores, benches with figurines you can take pictures with and SO much more! I think kids would love it, but if you aren’t into crowded tourist traps, then you might want to avoid it in the summer.
Hikes
The Door Trail
This hike was pretty easy however a bit confusing. If you don’t download the trail map ahead of time, make sure to look for the yellow poles, those will guide you to the end of the trail. You’ll know you reached the end when you see the sign below!
Distance: .8 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 32 ft
Level: Easy
More info here
Notch & Window Trail
The Notch Trail was my favorite hike but I didn’t think the view at the end was the greatest. You do have to climb up a ladder at one point and the views along the way are awesome but I was a little disappointed at the end. I honestly questioned if I reached the right spot but I did. Right where the Notch Trail starts, you can also take the quick path to the Window Trail.
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip for Notch Trail, add on .3 miles with the Window Trail
Elevation Gain: 127 feet
Level: Moderate
More info here
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
This trail was pretty mediocre but it was easy and quick so I did it. Great views of the Cliff Shelf!
Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
Level: Easy
More info here.
