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South Dakota, United States

Badlands National Park

One full day covers the Loop Road and short trails; stay for sunset and dark skies. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 4 activities and 1 place to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Badlands National Park with friendsBrowse 10 places
Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Places
10

4 See · 4 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills

Best season
May – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

34°C / 93°F avg high

Coolest month
December

2°C / 36°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 78 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Badlands National Park

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across I-90 Exit 131, Cedar Pass and Badlands Loop Road. All 4 are free to visit.

  • Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

    Cold War missile site with a visitor center and the Delta-09 silo viewing window.

    Tip Delta-01 control center tours need reservations on Recreation.gov.

    • I-90 Exit 131
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Ben Reifel Visitor Center in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Andrea Meintel · Google
    See

    Ben Reifel Visitor Center

    Main park visitor center with a fossil prep lab and orientation film.

    Tip Watch paleontologists work in the lab in summer.

    • Cedar Pass
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Fossil Exhibit Trail in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Mark Mandelstamm · Google
    See

    Fossil Exhibit Trail

    Short accessible boardwalk with fossil replicas of ancient mammals.

    Tip Good midday stop; little shade.

    • Badlands Loop Road
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Midday
  • Pinnacles Overlook in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Charlie Bain · Google
    See

    Pinnacles Overlook

    Wide view across spires and layered buttes at the park's west end.

    Tip Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for color shifts.

    • Badlands Loop Road
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Sunset

Do

4 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Cedar Pass, Badlands Loop Road and Sage Creek. 3 of them are free.

  • Door Trail in Badlands National ParkPhoto: CHB Wien · Google
    Do

    Door Trail

    Easy 0.75-mile trail through a break in the Badlands Wall into eroded terrain.

    Tip Follow the numbered posts beyond the boardwalk.

    • Cedar Pass
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Notch Trail in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Jake Seboly · Google
    Do

    Notch Trail

    1.5-mile trail with a log ladder climb to a ledge over the White River Valley.

    Tip Skip in rain; the clay becomes slick.

    • Cedar Pass
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Badlands Loop Road in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Ashley Stanley · Google
    Do

    Badlands Loop Road

    SD Highway 240 through the park, with overlooks every few miles.

    Tip Drive west in the afternoon to end at Pinnacles for sunset.

    • Badlands Loop Road
    • $
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Sage Creek Rim Road in Badlands National ParkPhoto: RedPill Samurai · Google
    Do

    Sage Creek Rim Road

    Gravel road past Roberts Prairie Dog Town and frequent bison herds.

    Tip Passable for cars in dry weather; check after rain.

    • Sage Creek
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Early evening

Eat

Where we would book a table in Badlands National Park in Cedar Pass.

  • Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant in Badlands National ParkPhoto: Cedar Pass Lodge in Badlands National Park · Google
    Eat

    Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant

    The park's only restaurant, known for Indian tacos and bison burgers.

    Tip Seasonal; usually open spring through fall.

    • Cedar Pass
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Badlands National Park in Wall.

  • Wall Drug in Badlands National ParkPhoto: BakedintheHole · CC BY 4.0
    Drink

    Wall Drug

    Sprawling roadside stop since 1931 with 5-cent coffee, donuts and free ice water.

    Tip Have the homemade donuts with the nickel coffee.

    • Wall
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Morning

How to fit Badlands National Park into a trip

Badlands National Park is stop 3 of 3 on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Follow it as-is or lift Badlands National Park into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Badlands National Park month by month

Average daily highs run from 2°C / 36°F in December to 34°C / 93°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 78 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Badlands National Park weather and the best time to visit →

Near Badlands National Park

2 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Badlands National Park questions, answered

How many days do you need in Badlands National Park?

Our route notes suggest 1 day in Badlands National Park. On our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Badlands National Park best known for?

One full day covers the Loop Road and short trails; stay for sunset and dark skies. Standouts on our list: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Cold War missile site with a visitor center and the Delta-09 silo viewing window); Ben Reifel Visitor Center (Main park visitor center with a fossil prep lab and orientation film); Fossil Exhibit Trail (Short accessible boardwalk with fossil replicas of ancient mammals).

When is the best time to visit Badlands National Park?

Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route is best May – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (34°C / 93°F), the coolest in December (2°C / 36°F) and the most rain in May (about 78 mm).

What are the best things to do in Badlands National Park?

Start with Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Door Trail, Notch Trail and Fossil Exhibit Trail. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 4 activities, 1 place to eat and 1 bar or café.

What is near Badlands National Park?

The closest destinations in our guides are Black Hills (about 103 km / 64 mi) and Medora (about 352 km / 219 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Badlands National Park with your crew

Open the Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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