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Sight Cedar Pass, Badlands National Park

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

A sight in Cedar Pass, Badlands National Park, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Morning.

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Ben Reifel Visitor Center in Cedar Pass, Badlands National Park
Photo: Andrea Meintel · Google

Why go

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

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Badlands National Park, alongside 4 activities, 3 sights and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant, 0.2 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
Cedar Pass
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Badlands National Park, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant

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

    Food · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Notch Trail

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

    Activity · 1.0 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Door Trail

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

    Activity · 1.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Fossil Exhibit Trail

    Short accessible boardwalk with fossil replicas of ancient mammals.

    Sight · 3.5 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Badlands Loop Road

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

    Activity · 6.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

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

    Sight · 6.9 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Ben Reifel Visitor Center is a stop on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Badlands National Park

Another curated sight in Badlands National Park. See the full Badlands National Park guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Badlands National Park run from 36°F in December to 93°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Ben Reifel Visitor Center itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Badlands National Park from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Badlands National Park weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Ben Reifel Visitor Center, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
25216 SD-240, Interior, SD 57750, USA
Coordinates
43.74906, -101.94169
Destination
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Website
nps.gov

Ben Reifel Visitor Center: quick answers

How much time do you need at Ben Reifel Visitor Center?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Ben Reifel Visitor Center. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Ben Reifel Visitor Center?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Watch paleontologists work in the lab in summer.

Is Ben Reifel Visitor Center free?

Yes, we list Ben Reifel Visitor Center as free to visit. Check the official website before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Ben Reifel Visitor Center?

Ben Reifel Visitor Center is at 25216 SD-240, Interior, SD 57750, USA, in Cedar Pass. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Ben Reifel Visitor Center?

Ben Reifel Visitor Center appears on Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Ben Reifel Visitor Center to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Badlands National Park.

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Also in Badlands National Park

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.