Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Badlands National Park in January
Badlands National Park sees its driest month, with just 0.3 in (8 mm) of rain or snow, highs of 37°F (3°C) and lows of 18°F (-8°C).
With a comfort score of 49/100 (10th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 37°F (3°C)
- Avg low
- 18°F (-8°C)
- Rain or snow
- 0.3 in (8 mm)
- Humidity
- 71%
- Cloud cover
- 64%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 04 min
- Comfort score
- 49/100 · Fair
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 37°F (3°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 18°F (-8°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, about 0.3 in (8 mm) of rain or snow, and since the average temperature is below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Daylight is short, roughly 9 h 04 min mid-month, so start sightseeing early.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are May and September & October.
- Comfort holds steady from December (49 → 49/100).
- Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 18°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Comfortable walking shoesmost picks involve some walking
What to do in Badlands National Park in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Wall Drug
Sprawling roadside stop since 1931 with 5-cent coffee, donuts and free ice water.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 37°F.
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.
Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant
The park's only restaurant, known for Indian tacos and bison burgers.
Sage Creek Rim Road
Gravel road past Roberts Prairie Dog Town and frequent bison herds.
Nearby in January
- Black Hills in January~64 mi · highs 32°F, 0.5 in rain or snow · 3°C (5°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Medora in January~219 mi · highs 29°F, 0.4 in rain or snow · 4°C (7°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Rocky Mountain NP in January~297 mi · highs 24°F, 1.3 in rain or snow · 7°C (12°F) cooler by day, wetter
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Badlands National Park in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Badlands National Park?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 49/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are May and September & October. Expect highs of 37°F (3°C) and 0.3 in (8 mm) of rain or snow. Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Badlands National Park in January?
Average highs are 37°F (3°C) and average lows 18°F (-8°C), making it the 2nd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Badlands National Park in January?
Not much: about 0.3 in (8 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 16.9 in (429 mm).
What should I pack for Badlands National Park in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 18°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible) and comfortable walking shoes (most picks involve some walking).
More on Badlands National Park
Planning Badlands National Park in January?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.