Things to Do in Badlands National Park: Best Overlooks, Scenic Drives, and Hikes!
Are you planning a trip to South Dakota and looking for some awesome things to do in Badlands National Park? In this Badlands guide, we’ll cover all the must-see sights in Badlands National Park, share our favorite Badlands hikes, suggest some itineraries, and give our best tips for visiting this incredible South Dakota National Park.
Badlands National Park, located in southern South Dakota, is a seriously otherworldly place. With its moon-like rock formations, scenic drives, and fun hikes, the Badlands are a place that cannot be missed on any South Dakota road trip. I feel like I say this after every visit to a new National Park, but I really can’t help myself here…after our visit, I’m pretty sure the Badlands became my new favorite National Park!
What’s so great about the Badlands? We’re here to tell you! We want to share with you why this park is so amazing. In this guide, we’re sharing the top sights in Badlands National Park and giving you the details on all the best things to do in the Badlands, including scenic drives, overlooks, and best Badlands hikes. We’ll also share our best tips on where to stay near Badlands National Park, when to visit, and how to organize your time into the perfect Badlands National Park itinerary – no matter how long you plan on visiting.
If you’re a first-time visitor and looking for the must-see spots in Badlands National Park, you’re in the right place…let’s dive right in!
In this best things to do in the Badlands guide:
Why is Badlands National Park Worth Visiting?
When you see the Badlands in real life, or even just in pictures, the first thing that you’ll probably notice is how crazy they look! You certainly won’t feel like you’re looking at pictures of Earth, that’s for sure.
Epic views of the colorful hills of Badlands National Park
But there’s more to the Badlands than just their beauty. Much more.
These crazy rock structures basically hold millions and millions of years of geological history, which is what makes Badlands National Park so special.
But what exactly does the term “badlands” mean? The term sounds pretty uninviting, but really, it just refers to these types of similar-looking rock features that are made up of soft, easily-eroding, sedimentary rock.
How did the Badlands form? They’re the result of a long process of rock deposition over millions of years. From about 75 million years ago to 28 million years ago, layers of rocks continued to be deposited into layers through natural forces like wind and rivers. In fact, you can see these layers in many places in Badlands National Park…it’s one of the features of the Badlands that makes them so darn beautiful, but it also gives us insight into their history, with each layer corresponding to a different period of time! Pretty cool.
Erosion of these rock deposits started about a half a million years ago, eroding at about one inch per year, which, geologically speaking, is fast! This erosion is what gives them their cool jagged shapes, and gives them a predicted lifespan of about a million years…it’s estimated that these badland structures of Badlands National Park will be gone in another half a million years (phew, no worrying about them disappearing any time soon!).
Aside from just geological history, these badlands preserve natural history as well. Badlands National Park is special because it actually has one of the densest collection of fossils in the world! You can check out some of these fossils from ancient mammals and marine reptiles while you’re in the park, but more on that later…
And there’s plenty of wildlife today that you can see while driving or hiking through the Badlands, too! Trying to spot bison, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep was one of our favorite things to do in the Badlands.
There are tons of these little guys all throughout Badlands National Park!
And lots of bighorn sheep, too!
So, is Badlands National Park worth visiting? You betcha! It’s 1000% worth visiting. Pictures just don’t do this place justice.
We hope that by sharing these facts that as we talk about all the amazing things to do in the Badlands, and when you actually visit, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the beauty around you!
How to Get to Badlands National Park
After learning all those cool facts, you’re probably wondering, “Where is Badlands National Park and how can I get there?!”. Both good questions!
Badlands National Park is located in southwestern South Dakota. This corner of the state has a surprising number of awesome things to do, making Badlands a great stop on a South Dakota road trip, although it can be a great place to visit just on its own, too, because it’s that awesome!
But if you are planning on road tripping through the area, Badlands National Park is pretty close to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and more!
Airports near Badlands National Park
If you’re planning to fly into Badlands National Park, the main airport in South Dakota and the closest airport to Badlands National Park is in Rapid City. Rapid City is only about an hour from the Badlands entrance station.
Driving to Badlands National Park
If you’re driving to Badlands from somewhere else, here are some driving times from places near Badlands National Park. It’s located just miles south of interstate 90, making the Badlands an easy road trip stop! It’s also near Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and other popular South Dakota attractions.
Wall, SD to Badlands: 12 minutes
Custer, SD to Badlands: One hour and 45 minutes
Mount Rushmore to Badlands: 1.5 hours
Devil’s Tower, WY to Badlands: 2.5 hours
Yellowstone National Park to Badlands: 8 hours
Jackson Hole, WY to Badlands: 9 hours
Denver, CO to Badlands: 7 hours
Salt Lake City, UT to Badlands: 11 hours
How to get around Badlands National Park
The best way to travel through Badlands National Park is with your own car (or renting a car)! There is one main road (Badlands Loop Road) that goes through the park and offers an incredibly scenic drive through the heart of the badlands. Many of the best places in Badlands National Park are off this road, and driving on your own gives you the freedom to stop and explore when and where you want.
Having your own vehicle is the best way to see all the amazing places in Badlands National Park
Where to Stay Near Badlands National Park
The closest place to stay to Badlands National Park is the town of Wall, which is just 12 minutes north of the Pinnacles entrance station. This is a small town that has accommodations and places to eat, and also has the famous Wall Drug, which we will talk more about later in this article. Staying here will put you about as close as you can get to all the best things to do in the Badlands without staying in the park.
If you want to stay inside the park, the only option for lodging in Badlands National Park is the Cedar Pass Lodge, which is near the Ben Reifel visitor center.
Camping in Badlands National Park
Morning views from our campsite in the Badlands
Camping is a great way to experience the park, and puts you right at the front door of all the amazing things to do in Badlands National park.
There are two campgrounds in Badlands National Park you can choose from based on the style of camping you’re looking for.
The Cedar Pass campground is a huge year- round campground located right next to the Ben Reifel visitor center. Reservations have to be made through the Cedar Pass Lodge.
Cost: $23 for tents, $38 for electric hook ups.
The Sage Creek Campground is located on Sage Creek Rim Road, which is unpaved but doable with standard cars when dry. It’s a free, tent-only, first-come first-served site, and is pretty primitive – there are pit toilets but no potable water.
Cost: Free!
Camping outside of Badlands National Park
Camping in Badlands National Park means sleeping next to amazing views like this!
There are a few free dispersed camping areas near Badlands National Park, located outside of the Pinnacles entrance station. If you are a self-sufficient camper without the need for services and hook-ups, these sites provide awesome views over the Badlands for free! Plus, you’re just a hop, skip, and jump away from all the best attractions in Badlands National Park. Just remember to pack in what you pack out and do your best to leave no trace!
Camping near Badlands National Park can get crowded
Badlands National Park Map
Before we get into all the best things to do in Badlands National Park, we want to arm you with this Badlands map as reference as we take you through all the awesome must-see places in the badlands!
A map of Badlands National Park taken from the park brochure
As you can see, there are two units to the park. Most of the best spots in Badlands National Park are located in the North Unit, and that’s what will be the main focus of this badlands guide.
North Unit versus the South Unit of Badlands National Park
The North Unit of the Badlands is the most popular section of the park. It has many of the top attractions of Badlands National Park, and a gorgeous scenic drive that cuts right through the heart of the park, giving easy access to amazing overlooks and hikes. It’s also the closest to get to if you’re coming from I-90. If you have limited time to spend in Badlands National Park, the North Unit is where I would suggest spending your time.
This is a closer view taken from the map above of the North Unit of Badlands National Park. Here, you can see all the best places in the Badlands (including overlooks and hikes) that we’ll be talking about in this guide.
The South Unit of the Badlands is a bit more off the beaten path. This unit contains the Stronghold and Palmer Creek areas of the park and are managed by both the park service and the Oglala Lakota tribe. From either entrance station in the North Unit, it will take about an hour to drive to the White River Visitor Center (the visitor center for the South Unit). This part of the badlands has no roads that cut through its interior, and no established hiking trails, so to explore, you’ll need to drive or hike in the backcountry. Though this Badlands National Park guide focuses mostly on the North Unit, we will give you some suggestions if this more rugged and remote section of the Badlands interests you!
Best Things to Do in Badlands National Park
Ok, I think we’ve talked enough about how amazing this place is, but what exactly is there to do at Badlands National Park? Here’s our list of all the amazing things to do in the Badlands!
Drive Badlands Loop Road
The absolute best thing to do in Badlands National Park is to drive the incredibly scenic Badlands Loop Road. This road runs right through the heart of the North Unit of the park. There are two entrances to the North Unit of the Badlands found on either side of this scenic drive – the Northeast Entrance Station found on the eastern end of the park, and the Pinnacles Entrance Station at the west side. Between these two entrance stations, the Badlands Loop Road runs about 28 miles.
Taking in the views from this epic scenic drive is one of the best things to do in Badlands National Park!
How long do you need to drive the Badlands Loop Road?
Technically speaking, it takes about an hour to drive through the Badlands on this scenic drive, but realistically speaking, it will take you much, much longer. With 12 overlooks, and access to most of the best spots in the Badlands, you’ll be making plenty of pitstops and finding yourself getting into and out of your car quite a bit. Based on what you decide to do along this road, you can spend anywhere from several hours to a full day driving Badlands Loop Road.
Which direction should you drive Badlands Loop Road?
Honestly, it really doesn’t matter! You’ll get the same incredible views of the Badlands in both directions. The direction you choose to drive just depends on the order of Badlands activities you want to do throughout your day. The popular Notch trail is located quite close to the Northeast entrance, as is the visitor center and some popular sunrise spots, so driving east to west is a popular direction to drive Badlands Loop Road. We happened to drive west to east because of where we were camping outside of the Pinnacles entrance station, but at the end of the day, we drove the scenic drive back the way we came, so we got to experience the drive in both directions.
Best stops on Badlands Loop Road
The reason that driving Badlands Loop Road is one of the best things you can do in Badlands National Park is because it allows you to see an incredible amount of epic scenery right from the comfort of your car. A lot of National Parks require you to hike a bit to see the really good stuff, but in the Badlands, you can see all the good stuff from the road. Hiking just gives you the added bonus of getting to play in it. In fact, it’s one of our favorite scenic drives ever!
There are 12 overlooks along Badlands Loop Road, and honestly, they’re all good! It’s kind of hard to pick our favorite, or to name any of them as “the best”. Each one is different and shows off a different aspect of the landscape. But if we had to choose some favorites, here are our top picks for must-see overlooks in the Badlands and a glance at some of the epic scenery you’ll see along the way!
Pinnacles Overlook
The Pinnacles Overlook give expansive views over Badlands National Park
Pinnacles is often listed as a favorite overlook by many, especially for sunrise or sunset. This was our first stop in the park as we traveled from west to east. Honestly, it wasn’t our favorite. But it might be because it was by far the most crowded for some reason. The views are still gorgeous, though!
Yellow Mounds
Exploring the colorful badland formations on foot at the Yellow Mounds Overlook is one of the best things to do in Badlands National Park! I mean, look at those colors…
Conata Basin
The Conata Basin Overlook in Badlands National Park gives view of the colorful hills from a higher vantage point
Panorama Point
Panorama Point was one of our favorite places in Badlands National Park because of these views of the striped hills
White River Valley Overlook
More epic views over Badlands National Park at the White River Valley Overlook
Big Badlands Overlook
Big Badlands Overlook had some of our absolute favorite views of the Badlands!
Go for a hike in Badlands National Park
Though the scenic drive provides you with some amazing views, hiking is an adventure you should not miss in Badlands National Park. Hitting the trails will allow you to get a little bit more up close and personal to the badlands features- it’s basically a massive playground. And we guarantee that at some point while you’re hiking, you’ll ask yourself if you’ve somehow teleported to the moon. Hiking was definitely our favorite thing to do in the Badlands and is certainly a fun and unique experience!
There are 8 official hiking trails in Badlands National Park. All of these are found on the eastern end of Badlands Loop Road, all pretty close to the visitor center. Many of them are pretty easy and flat interpretive trails, but others are a little longer and more challenging.
While we have a separate guide on hiking in Badlands National Park, here is a brief overview of the trails in the badlands to give you an idea of what you can expect!
The Door Trail
Hiking the door trail was one of our favorite things to do in Badlands National Park!
Distance: 0.5 miles
This easy trail is a quarter mile (one-way) boardwalk that takes you to a break in the badlands that is considered a “door” into the views beyond. While many stop here, you can choose to venture beyond this door to explore more of the badland features.
The Window Trail
Exploring the badlands of the Window Trail in Badlands National Park
Distance: 0.3 miles
This is another very easy, flat, and quick trail to an overlook of the badlands. It’s found in the same parking lot as the Door trail.
The Fossil Exhibit Trail
The Fossil Exhibit Trail is an easy hike in Badlands National Park that will give you up close views of the park’s cool formations
Distance: 0.25 miles
An easy flat boardwalk that loops through areas with fossil replicas and interpretive signs about the area and the ancient creatures that these fossils belonged to.
The Cliff Shelf Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles
A short staircase climbs about 200 feet to an overlook of the badlands.
The Notch Trail
Hiking the Notch Trail was our favorite thing to do in Badlands National Park!
Distance: 1.4 miles
This is hands-down our favorite hike in Badlands National Park. It’s a fun adventurous hike involving a log ladder and traversing along ledges to an overlook of the White River Valley. The end view isn’t so much the main attraction on this hike, though, as is the journey to get to it.
Tackling the log ladder on the Notch Trail is definitely one of the more heart-pumping things to do in Badlands National Park!
The Saddle Pass Trail
Distance: 0.25 miles
This trail leaves the scenic drive and climbs steeply and quickly up the wall of the badlands to a view over the valley. It connects with the Castle Trail at the top if you want to hike further.
The Castle Trail
The Castle Trail hike is a great thing to do in the Badlands if you’re looking for a longer day hike
Distance: 10 miles
This is the longest trail in the park as a 5 mile point to point hike connecting the Door/Window/Notch parking lot with the Fossil Exhibit Parking lot, so to do it without having two cars would require a ten mile round trip hike.
The Medicine Root Trail
Distance: 4 miles
This trail is a point to point trail that connects at two different parts along the Castle Trail. Instead of taking you through the badlands, this trail goes through the prairie grasslands, with distant views of the badland formations. This trail makes a good addition to the Castle Trail.
Open hike policy in Badlands National Park
While the park does have maintained trails, Badlands National Park is unique in that it has an open hike policy, meaning you can hike off-trail. This means that you can really create your own adventure when it comes to hiking in the badlands. Just be sure to use caution and judgement when climbing around the formations and know your limits. Make sure you have a GPS and map so you can navigate.
There are two areas in the park – Deer Haven and the Sage Creek Wilderness Area – that are considered to have “social trails” (unmaintained trails) that are typically used for this kind of open hiking.
Whether you choose to stay on or off trail, hiking is definitely one of the best things to do in Badlands National Park!
Drive Sage Creek Rim Road
Spotting prairie dogs along Sage Creek Rim Road!
Often overshadowed by the popular Badlands Loop Road, the Sage Creek Rim Road is an equally scenic and stunning drive through the North Unit of the Badlands. In fact, some of our favorite spots in Badlands National Park were along this road.
Sage Creek Rim Road is an unpaved dirt road that goes deeper into the wilderness of the badlands. It’s pretty well- maintained, though, so a standard car could drive this road, however, after rain it may require 4WD.
This road travels almost 27 miles from near the Pinnacles Overlook along the main Loop Road all the way to Scenic, and can take up to an hour to drive. However, to see the best parts of the road, you only have to drive about 5 miles out.
In these five miles, you’ll have access to several scenic overlooks. Check it out!
Hay Butte Overlook
Hay Butte Overlook is quite possibly our favorite viewpoint in Badlands National Park!
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
This awesome place in the Badlands is found at about the five mile mark along Sage Creek Rim Road. It’s the best place in Badlands to spot these cute little guys.
Roberts Prairie Dog Town was one of our favorite places in Badlands National Park…there were so many of these guys!
Aside from prairie dogs, the Sage Creek Rim Road is an excellent place to view bison and bighorn sheep…we saw both!
A bison in Roberts Prairie Dog Town
A bighorn sheep right alongside Sage Creek Rim Road in the Badlands
The prairie dog town was as far as we went along the road before turning around, but we were perfectly content with what we saw in those five miles!
Look for wildlife in the Badlands
A pair of bighorn sheep grazing along Badlands Loop Road
A fun thing to do in Badlands National Park is to spot the abundant wildlife! Spotting a bison, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep or observing the cute prairie dogs is a highlight for a lot of people who visit this park.
We were lucky enough to spot all of these animals during our visit to Badlands National Park, and here’s our biggest tip: Stay in the park until dusk!!!
This is when we saw all the wildlife come to life! Somewhere between 6 and 7 pm, just before the sun started setting, we saw bison and bighorn sheep all along the scenic drive.
These are the best places to see wildlife in Badlands National Park according to both the park service and where we personally saw them:
Bison
These guys are typically seen from Sage Creek Rim Road. We saw one near the prairie dog town along this road, as well as one walking along the main Loop Road right near where Sage Creek Road branches off.
Bighorn Sheep
These guys are often seen near the Pinnacles Overlook, and towards the eastern end of the Loop Road near the Castle Trail area and Big Badlands Overlook. We actually saw a lot on the western end of the Loop Road as we were driving towards Pinnacles Overlook, and then we saw a ton at the actual Overlook! They were best seen from the vantage point of Sage Creek Rim Road so that you can see them climbing all along the badland formations just below the overlook.
Can you see the bighorn sheep? They can be hard to spot among the sea of badlands!
Prairie Dogs
The best place to see these cute little guys is at Robert’s Prairie Dog Town off of Sage Creek Rim Road…you’re guaranteed to spot them here! We also saw them right after the Pinnacles Entrance Station. There was a prairie dog town right off the road that greeted us as we drove into the park!
Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab
A very unique and interesting attraction in Badlands National Park is the Fossil Preparation Lab located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. This is a working paleontology lab, meaning you can observe actual scientists prepping and cleaning fossils found throughout the park for display! It’s interactive, so you can ask the scientists about the work they’re doing, and there are exhibits of the many preserved fossils from the park. The lab is open for visitors June through September every day from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Checking out fossils at the Fossil Prep Lab is a unique thing to do in the Badlands
View the sunrise and sunset at Badlands National Park
Many people say that Badlands has the best sunrises and sunsets they’ve ever seen, making catching one or the other (or both!) a must-do in Badlands National Park. There’s just something about the way the sunlight glows on the formations that make it a truly amazing time to see and photograph the Badlands.
While I’m sure most places in the park are amazing at these times, the park has specific suggestions for the best places to see the sunrise or sunset in the park.
Best places to see the sunrise in Badlands National Park: Big Badlands Overlook, Panorama Point, Norbeck Pass, and the Door Trail. All of these locations have east-facing overlooks that capture the glow of the rising sun well.
Best places to see the sunset in Badlands National Park: Pinnacles Overlook, Conata Basin, Norbeck Pass, and the Castle Trail. These west facing views capture the glow from the setting sun on the rock formations.
Our favorite spot sunset spot in Badlands National Park: Hay Butte Overlook!
I know above we said we can’t really name a favorite overlook because they’re all so good, but if we had to pick one, this would be it! And sunset from this spot was simply amazing.
Staying for sunset is a must-do in Badlands National Park
Backcountry camp in Badlands National Park
If you really want to get off the beaten path in Badlands National Park and experience the remote and rugged landscape up close, then backcountry camping in the Badlands is the best way to do it!
There’s actually no permits needed to backcountry camp in Badlands National Park! But we would recommend you stop into a visitor center and talk to a ranger about any plans you have. There’s also trail registers to sign into at a variety of trailheads in the park, including at the Castle Trail, Saddle Pass Trailhead, the Conata Picnic Area, the Sage Creek Basin Overlook, and the Sage Creek Campground, as these are common starting points for backcountry trips into the Badlands.
To camp in this rugged backcountry, you should be good with navigation skills, and be sure to pack a ton of water for your trip. In the badlands, there is very little opportunity for filtering water, so you’ll likely have to carry enough for the entirety of your planned trip.
While there are no permits needed, just make sure you stick to certain rules regarding backcountry camping in the Badlands, which include:
No campfires!
Set up camp at least a half mile from any road or trail.
The park’s open hike policy essentially means you can go anywhere you please! (Provided you follow the rules above.) But the more common places to start from include:
Deer Haven. Starting from the Conata Picnic Area, this is a 2.5 mile one way social trail (meaning it’s unmarked and unmaintained by the park).
Sage Creek Wilderness Area. Starting from multiple places along Sage Creek Rim Road, you can follow primarily game trails created by bison and other wildlife into the remote backcountry. These are pretty easily spotted from the Sage Creek campground.
Join a free ranger program
A great thing to do in Badlands National Park to learn more about the geology and formations is to join in on a ranger program. There a few different kinds offered daily in the park, and you can check out the park’s calendar to see when they’re offered.
The different types of badlands ranger programs include:
Geology Walks - offered at the Door Trail and give info on Badland geology and formation.
Fossil Talks – offered at the Fossil Exhibit trail
Evening Programs – offered at the Cedar Pass campground amphitheater every evening with varying topics
Night Sky Program – offered throughout the summer at the Cedar Pass amphitheater usually around 8:30 or 9 pm…which brings us to the next activity on our list…
Check out the night sky in Badlands National Park
With the remoteness of the park and the little amount of light pollution, Badlands National Park has an awesome night sky! If you’re not too tired from all the adventuring you did during the day, seeing the night sky is a must-do in the Badlands.
If you don’t want to do it on your own, the park offers some help!
Every evening in the summer months, the park offers Night Sky programs at the Cedar Pass campground amphitheater. This is usually around 7-8pm depending on when the sunsets. They set up telescopes so you can get a closer look at the night sky and some helpful tips and info from park rangers.
The Badlands Astronomy Festival
Once a year, the Badlands hosts a super cool festival where you can learn more about the night skies!
The year we visited, it occurred from July 9th-11th…when we just happened to be there! We actually didn’t end up going, but we did go to a very similar festival in Sequoia National Park, and highly recommend it!
The festival offers opportunities to view the night sky through special telescopes with astronomers there to tell you how and what to look at, an astrophotography workshop, and guest speakers! If you’re here at the right time, this would certainly be a unique thing to do in the Badlands.
Visit the South Unit of Badlands National Park
We mentioned above that there are two units to the Badlands. Most people just visit the North Unit, which is understandable. The South Unit of the Badlands is a bit out of the way and doesn’t offer as many hiking opportunities as the North Unit. But if you’re looking to beat the crowds in Badlands National Park and see some truly remote landscapes, then the South Unit is one of the best places in the Badlands to do it.
Here are some things to do in the Badland’s South Unit:
Drive the perimeter of the South Unit
While no roads cut into or through this part of the park, you can drive around its perimeter and take in the views. This drive starts in Scenic and travels down Highway 27 to the White River Visitor Center. From there, it cuts west across Highway 2, then north along Highway 41. Along this route, you can stop at the Red Shirt Table Overlook for the best views over the unit.
To drive from Scenic to the overlook, it’s almost 50 miles and one hour of driving. To get here from the North Unit and back would take several hours of your day, which is why a lot of people don’t do this.
However, if you’re heading to or from the Black Hill region of South Dakota, it can make for a nice detour, as Highway 41 continues from the overlook and up to Rapid City.
Sheep Table Mountain
This area borders the North and South units. There is a road that travels towards the South Unit for 5 miles to an overlook. A 4WD vehicle is recommended in all conditions as it is a rough dirt road, and in wet conditions it can be impassable. Beyond the overlook, the road continues for another 2.5 miles, but 4WD and high clearance are definitely necessary to continue.
Just a note: The park service refers to the south unit as part of a former bombing range. They ask that if you see something that looks like an “unexploded ordinance”, to report it to the park and to not touch it. Eek! To us, the South Unit is somewhere that’s probably best explored from the safety of your car rather than on foot!
Things to Do Near Badlands National Park
If you’re visiting Badlands National Park, we’re betting you’re more than likely doing a road trip through South Dakota. Since you don’t need a huge amount of time to visit the highlights of the Badlands, here are a few places near Badlands National Park that you can visit if you have the extra time.
Minuteman Missile Site
Located just outside of Badlands National Park, at the intersection of I-90 and Hwy 240, the Minuteman Missile Site gives you a glimpse of some Cold War era history. During a visit here, you can see:
The Delta 01 control facility – you can walk to the gate but to get past the gate and have an up close view, you need to reserve a tour in advance (up to 90 days in advance). Tours cost $12 per person and last 45 minutes. Check the site to see what physical requirements are needed to take the tour, as you may be climbing ladders and going through congested spaces.
Delta 09 – here, you can view a once fully operational missile silo. You can see the launch facility complete with an unarmed missile.
Wall Drug
This is impossible to miss. Trust us. Once you start driving within a few hundred miles of the Badlands, you’ll know…because you’ll start seeing signs and ads for this giant tourist attraction every 30 seconds. You may not have planned to go to Wall Drug, but by the time you finally get there, it’s almost impossible not to go to, just out of pure curiosity after seeing the millions of signs for it.
Once a place for tired travelers to grab some refreshing free ice water, Wall Drug is now what we like to call a tourist trap. Filled with souvenir shops, a restaurant, and the well-advertised 5 cent coffee, we have to admit we really didn’t like this place. It was incredibly crowded and just overly touristy for us. We spent about 30 minutes walking around and decided to leave.
But, this place attracts more than 2 million visitors a year! We just feel like it’s a must-see in the area, even if it’s just a quick stop like we did. Who knows…you may like it way more than we did! And since you’re right there at the Badlands, it’s worth a quick drive to get there and to experience what all the hype is about!
The Black Hills
Looking out at the Black Hills landscape from a hike in Custer State Park
The Black Hills is a small mountainous region in Southwest South Dakota that holds some of South Dakota’s top attractions…including Custer State Park and the famous Mount Rushmore. Rapid City, the main city gateway into the Black Hills, is just an hour from the Badlands, so this area is often combined with Badlands National Park on most South Dakota road trip itineraries.
The World’s Only Corn Palace
Ok, we are only including The Mitchell Corn Palace here as a warning in case you’ve heard of this place and are thinking of adding this onto your South Dakota road trip. Don’t do it! Or, do it, it’s up to you! If you’re traveling along I-90 from the east towards the Badlands, you’ll go through Mitchell, SD, where this is located and labelled as Mitchell’s top tourist attraction. We even heard about it from several people we knew, so we were intrigued. Luckily, Mitchell happened to be a good resting point for us anyway, so we figured, why not stop to the Corn Palace? While there are small exhibits and informational plaques about the history of the corn palace itself, some corn mural art, and a gift shop, the main purpose of this building is to serve as a place for festivals, events, banquets and even high school proms and graduations. The highlight of our time there were the local llamas randomly visiting. Oh, and the smell of popcorn as soon as you enter the building!
Badlands National Park Itineraries
Now that you know all the awesome things you can do in Badlands National Park, it’s time to put it all together to make one awesome Badlands itinerary!
With just a one or two day Badlands National Park itinerary, you can see most of the park’s highlights!
How much time do you need in Badlands National Park?
One of the things that surprised us about this park is that you really only need one day in Badlands National Park to see most of the highlights, especially if you’re a first-time visitor just looking to see the Badland’s top spots.
With all the overlooks and hikes, we thought we would need more time, but with one day in the Badlands, we pretty much saw everything on our to-do list!
With that in mind, here are some ideas for how you can arrange your own Badlands National Park itinerary if you have just a half day or one day in the park, or if you’re lucky enough to have two!
Half day Badlands National Park itinerary
With just a few hours to a half day in Badlands National Park, we would recommend driving the Badlands Loop Road, and doing one or two short hikes. We would recommend the Notch Trail as the top choice, and if you have time and energy left, do a quick jaunt down the Door Trail, which is in the same parking lot.
For this Badlands itinerary, we would recommend that you drive the Badlands Loop Road from east to west so that you can do your hikes in the morning when it’s cooler out, and then spend the rest of your time stopping at all the overlooks in the park.
One Day Badlands National Park itinerary
We spent one day in the Badlands and we thought it was the perfect amount of time to do everything we wanted! Here’s our recommendation for how to spend your time on a one day Badlands National Park itinerary.
If you’re staying in Wall, you’ll be about 25 minutes from the park’s Northeast Entrance and 15 minutes from the Pinnacles Entrance. You can start the Badlands Loop Road from either entrance.
East to west Badlands National Park itinerary
Head to the Big Badlands Overlook for sunrise. This is convenient because it’s the first overlook in the park, just past the entrance.
Hike! Drive a short way down the road and tackle the Notch, Door and Window trails.
If you have the energy, an optional hike would be to take on part of the Castle Trail, which begins just across the street from the Notch trailhead. You can go as far down the Castle trail as you like, or combine it with the Medicine Loop and/or Saddle Pass trail for a longer option.
Fossil Prep Lab. Once you’re done with any of the hikes you choose to do in this area, continue on to the visitor center and stop in the Fossil Prep Lab. On the way you can hike the Cliff Shelf trail, but we think this is skippable, especially if you hiked the Notch Trail, because you will have already gotten similar views over the White River Valley.
Drive to the Fossil Exhibit trailhead.
Badlands Loop Road. Spend the rest of the day driving west on the Badlands Loop Road and stopping at all the overlooks.
Drive Sage Creek Rim Road and continue the scenic overlooks and views. Make sure to stop at Robert’s Prairie Dog Town!
Wall/ Wall Drug: At this point, you might have an hour or two to spare before sunset, especially if you chose to forego the Castle Trail. You could head back to camp or into Wall to grab an early dinner before heading back into the park to catch sunset.
Catch sunset at Hay Butte Overlook. This is one of the closest overlooks to Wall and the Pinnacles entrance so it won’t require to much back tracking with driving. Also, it’s along Sage Creek Rim Road, which is a great place to spot wildlife, and since you’ll be there at dusk, you’ll probably see a lot! If you’d like, stick around until night time to view the night sky.
West to east Badlands National Park itinerary
Do the above itinerary but in reverse!
Sunrise. Catch sunrise at Pinnacles Overlook.
Drive Sage Creek Rim Road right after sunrise…you may see some wildlife at this time!
Head east on Badlands Loop Road, stopping at all the overlooks and trailheads, as well as the visitor center and Fossil Prep lab.
Hike. Save the Notch Trail or the Castle Trail for the late afternoon, once it’s a bit cooler out (if you’re in the park in the summer).
Dinner. With some time to spare, grab dinner at the Cedar Pass Lodge.
Sunset. Stick around for sunset at a nearby overlook and then hang around to join an evening Night Sky Program at the campground near the visitor center.
We know this sounds like a lot, but we promise it’s all totally doable. For us, it took us about 7 hours to drive the Badlands Loop Road in one direction, stopping at all the overlooks and doing most of the short hikes along the way. Then we backtracked down the road to drive Sage Creek Rim Road and catch the sunset. In total, we spent about 9 hours in the park.
Two day Badlands National Park itinerary
With a second day in the Badlands, you can get a bit more off the beaten path by doing one or two of the following:
Opt for a longer hike, such as the full Castle Trail with the add-ons of Medicine Root and Saddle Pass trails. This is a big hike and will require at least a half day, if not more.
Explore the South Unit. Driving to the unit, going around the perimeter, adding on Sheep Table Mountain, and going back to the North Unit, will take up a good portion of the day, so this is a good add on if you have multiple days in the Badlands.
Check out one of the social wilderness trails for more of a make your own adventure off the beaten path.
Visit the Minuteman Missile site just outside of the North Unit.
Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
You can visit the Badlands any time of year, but of course, some times are better than others.
The weather in the Badlands ranges from sub zero temps to dangerous heat…it truly is a place of extremes!
Summer in Badlands National Park is both hot and busy. And by hot, we mean it can reach over 100 degrees. In a park that’s super dry with little shade and a strong sun, that kind of temperature can get quite uncomfortable, and dangerous. When we were in the park, it was in the low 90s, and the heat really started getting to us by mid-afternoon. If you’re in the park in the middle of summer, save all hikes for early morning or late afternoon/evening, and bring tons of water. Also, summer in the Badlands is rainy, with frequent thunderstorms that can even produce hail and the occasional tornado, so be sure to keep a close eye on the forecasts.
Thunderstorms are common in the summer in Badlands National Park!
Winter in the Badlands is cold and snowy, with 1-2 feet of snow dropping each year. This isn’t the best time to visit the Badlands to see the colorful hills of the badlands or to hike.
Spring and fall have more moderate temperatures and smaller crowds. Because of this, we think this is the best time of year to visit Badlands National Park.
You can check the average monthly temperatures here to get an idea of the weather in Badlands National Park.
Extra Tips for Visiting Badlands National Park
Here are a few extra tips to help you plan out your trip so that you can focus on seeing all the best places in the Badlands:
What does it cost to visit the Badlands? The Badlands National Park fee is $30 per vehicle which is valid for seven consecutive days. We would strongly recommend considering purchasing the America the Beautiful Annual Pass, especially if you’re on longer road trip – it’s just $80 so pays for itself with a visit to just a handful of parks!
Be vigilant of wildlife on the roads in the Badlands, and if you see them on the trails, keep at least 100 feet away and don’t try to approach or feed…this includes the prairie dogs, as cute as they may be!
Check conditions of roads and trails here.
Make sure to check the weather before you venture out. Afternoon storms are common here (we can speak from experience!) and the Badlands become dangerous when lightening is present. Also, the rocks and trails become slippery and potentially unsafe when wet. The park service warns that the weather can change pretty rapidly and without warning, so always come prepared, even if the forecast calls for a clear day.
Download offline maps since service in the park and surrounding areas can be spotty or nonexistent. Definitely stop in the visitor center to get maps and more information about trail conditions.
Plan for a full day in the park! The only place to get food in the park is at Cedar Pass Lodge. We suggest packing a lunch, and maybe even dinner, and lots of snacks so that you can avoid driving back and forth either to the Lodge or back to Wall to eat.
Especially in the summer months, plan for longer and more challenging hikes in the morning or late afternoon/evening to avoid the hot temperatures. They really do slow you down.
If you choose to climb around and venture out into the Badlands, be careful and know your limits. The most common injury in the park is twisted/fractured ankles from slips and falls on the badlands…especially from people not correctly judging their ability to get down from what they climbed!
The Badland formations are more fragile than they appear. They are actually pretty soft and fragile, so avoid going near ledges or precarious-looking areas on trails or at overlooks.
What to Pack for Badlands National Park
Here are some items we would recommend specifically for a visit to the Badlands:
Sunscreen – an absolute must.
Hat and sunglasses- This goes even for the cooler months because the sun stays super strong all year.
Hiking boots/shoes – wear something with good grip if you plan to hike around the badlands at all.
Lots of water – at least a gallon per person for the day.
Layers and rain gear for any changing weather.
Food – pack in your meals and plan to spend a full day in the Badlands!
More to Do Near Badlands National Park
Looking for more to do after your visit to the Badlands? If you’re planning a South Dakota road trip, be sure to check out these other articles for a ton more information!
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK - Check out one of the most complex cave systems in the world just an hour and a half from Badlands National Park! Read our complete guide to spending one day in Wind Cave National Park.
CUSTER STATE PARK- This awesome place in the Black Hills has epic hikes, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Check out our guide on all the best things to do in Custer State Park (plus itineraries!).
Also read our guide on the best hikes in Custer State Park, including the highest point in South Dakota!
MOUNT RUSHMORE- Learn how to plan a visit to this iconic American landmark in our ultimate Mount Rushmore guide.
THE PETER NORBECK SCENIC BYWAY- This epic South Dakota scenic drive is the best way to spend one day on a South Dakota road trip!
SOUTH DAKOTA ROAD TRIP ITINERARY - Learn how to plan your time in South Dakota with our one day to one week South Dakota road trip itineraries.
DEVILS TOWER- This isn’t quite in South Dakota, but it is just over the border in Wyoming. Learn how to visit this unique geological feature with our Devils Toiwer guide.
We really hope this guide helps you plan your perfect Badlands National Park itinerary. Which of things to do in the Badlands are you most looking forward to? Let us know!