Know Before You Go: Visiting Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is open 24/7, but its two visitor centers operate varying hours. The White River Visitor Center is closed during the offseason (late September to Memorial Day in May), then open daily from 9am to 4pm.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is open every day of the year (except Thanksgiving and Christmas), with its hours changing slightly by season. Roads to or through the park may be closed during times of heavy snow or other extreme weather—any closures are reported on the National Parks website.

Your experience at Badlands National Park will vary depending on the timing of your visit. Avoid the summer months, when there are the most crowds and the sun is unforgiving. The middle of winter is also not ideal, as snow and ice can cause unpleasant driving conditions and make some trails inaccessible.

For a quieter experience with pleasant weather conditions, plan your trip during the shoulder seasons months of April or September. As far as time of day goes, visit during dawn or dusk when the changing light dances across the rock formations. Sunset tours are also popular here, and Badlands is known for its incredible stargazing opportunities.

You need a National Park entrance pass to enter Badlands, which is valid for seven days. The price of passes varies depending on how you enter: On foot costs US$15 per person, motorcyclists pay US$25, and the fee for cars is US$30, which covers the driver and all passengers.

Holders of the annual America the Beautiful National Parks pass enter for free. However, because the entrance passes are per vehicle rather than per person, most guided tours of Badlands include these fees within the price.

The most popular way to explore the park is on a road trip through the Badlands, but booking a tour is a great way to get expert guidance and inside information about the area, plus check out little-visited spots such as Scenic Ghost Town. Book an after-dark excursion for wildlife viewing and stargazing.

Or, if you don’t have a full day to dedicate to the park, take a guided sunset tour from Rapid City. There are also self-guided audio tours if you who want the flexibility of traveling at your own pace.

Badlands National Park is home to some of the best photography spots in South Dakota, including the park’s scenic overlooks that give you a bird’s-eye view of the rock formations below. Head to Big Badlands Overlook for views of the eastern wall, Panoramic Point Overlook for rock formations that jut out of the White River Valley, or Pinnacles Overlook for one of the best spots to watch the sunset.

Hiking trails in the Badlands also provide great views, such as the Window Trail and Door Trail—you can experience both trails on a guided tour. But if you’re up for an adventure, no views beat those you’ll get on a flight over the park.

One of the highlights of a visit to Badlands National Park is looking for wildlife—specifically, bighorn sheep, wild buffalo, and prairie dogs that scurry across the otherworldly landscape. You may spot creatures while driving through the park, though you can head to Pinnacle Overlook to scan the rocks for bighorn sheep or to Sage Creek Rim Road to spot buffalo and pronghorn antelope.

Alternatively, to learn about local history and wildlife during your visit, explore the park with an expert guide who can tell you more about the species that call the Badlands home.

What you wear to the Badlands depends on how you’re planning to spend your time there. If you’re hiking, make sure to wear sturdy walking boots, comfortable socks, hiking pants or shorts, and sweat-wicking fabrics with layers. Be aware that temperatures can change dramatically once the sun goes down, and pack layers accordingly.

If you’re exploring the park by car with frequent photo stops, wear comfortable clothing and make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen. Unlike nearby natural attractions, such as Custer State Park, there’s very little shade in the Badlands, so be prepared for sun exposure.

Both of the Badlands visitor centers are accessible to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, thanks to ramps at the entrances, dedicated parking for visitors with disabilities, and accessible bathrooms. Even camping in Badlands Park can be accessible, as there are a few campgrounds designed to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs.

Most scenic overlooks are also accessible via boardwalks, and some tours offer vehicles with wheelchair lifts (although it’s best to check for specific accommodations with the tour operator before booking). There are also accessible park brochures available online, whether you need a text-only, foreign language, or audio-described pamphlet.

After sightseeing in the Badlands, follow these South Dakota travel tips to check out other nearby attractions. Some tours of the Badlands also take you to visit the Wall Drug Store—a popular roadside stop that makes you feel like you’ve traveled back to an old-timey shop.

Other places to explore locally include the thickly forested Black Hills, situated a couple of hours away; the nearby town of Custer; and the easily recognizable Mount Rushmore National Memorial. You may even consider spending a few days in South Dakota to see it all, or joining a multi-day tour of all the key sights.

• How were the Badlands formed? The unique striped look of the Badlands’ rock formations comes from two processes: deposition (the building of layer after layer of rock), and erosion as various rivers flowed through these landscapes some 500,000 years ago.

• What's the main attraction in the Badlands? There's no single main attraction in Badlands National Park, but the Badlands Loop Road is what most visitors take when in the area. Another popular site is Wall Drug, a store that has been around since the 1930s and is located just outside the park.

• What's the history of the Badlands? The Badlands are rich with history, from the presence of prehistoric fossils to the traces of Indigenous peoples and the impact the settlers had on the land. You can learn more during guided tours or at the visitor centers.

• Why is it called the Badlands? Badlands comes from the original name given to the area by the Lakota people, who once called it home. They called it mako sica, which translates as “bad lands.”

• What are some things to do in the Badlands with kids? There are lots of ways for families to have a fun visit to Badlands National Park. Kids can join in the Junior Ranger Program, look for wildlife, or take the Fossils Exhibit Trail, a short walking loop with information about fossils found in the area.

• How many entrances are there to Badlands National Park? There are three main entrances to the national park: the Northeast Entrance, Pinnacle Entrance, and Interior Entrance.