Sight Badlands Loop Road, Badlands National Park
Pinnacles Overlook
A sight in Badlands Loop Road, Badlands National Park, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunset.
Why go
Wide view across spires and layered buttes at the park's west end.
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 Sage Creek Rim Road, 5.4 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.
- Type
- Sight · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Badlands Loop Road
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time
- Sunset
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Badlands National Park, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Sage Creek Rim Road
Gravel road past Roberts Prairie Dog Town and frequent bison herds.
Activity · 5.4 mi straight-line - 2Wall Drug
Sprawling roadside stop since 1931 with 5-cent coffee, donuts and free ice water.
Drinks · 8.5 mi straight-line - 3Fossil Exhibit Trail
Short accessible boardwalk with fossil replicas of ancient mammals.
Sight · 13 mi straight-line - 4Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Cold War missile site with a visitor center and the Delta-09 silo viewing window.
Sight · 17 mi straight-line - 5Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant
The park's only restaurant, known for Indian tacos and bison burgers.
Food · 17 mi straight-line - 6Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Main park visitor center with a fossil prep lab and orientation film.
Sight · 17 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Pinnacles Overlook is a stop on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Badlands National Park
Pinnacles Overlook is our only sight pick in Badlands National Park; here is what else we recommend there. 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 Pinnacles Overlook itself, we suggest: Sunset.
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 Pinnacles Overlook, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA
- Coordinates
- 43.86965, -102.23314
- Destination
- Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Pinnacles Overlook: quick answers
How much time do you need at Pinnacles Overlook?
Plan on about 45 minutes at Pinnacles Overlook. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Pinnacles Overlook?
Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for color shifts.
Is Pinnacles Overlook free?
Yes, we list Pinnacles Overlook as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Where is Pinnacles Overlook?
Pinnacles Overlook is at SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA, in Badlands Loop Road. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Pinnacles Overlook?
Pinnacles Overlook appears on Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Pinnacles Overlook 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.
Plan Badlands National Park
- Badlands National Park travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Badlands National Park weather by month
- Black Hills to Badlands National Park 64 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Badlands National Park
- Badlands Loop Road Activity
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.