Basic Information
Operating Hours & SeasonsBadlands National Park and its campgrounds are open all year.
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Information, Badlands National Park
Explore Information in Badlands National Park with grouped stops, trails, and related park places collected under the same planning theme.
Information Stops and Trip Ideas
Use this Information guide to compare the stops that belong together in Badlands National Park, then decide which ones deserve map time or a saved trip stop.
Basic Information
When to VisitBadlands National Park's 380 square miles of wild terrain is open year-around.
Basic Information
Driving DirectionsBadlands National Park can be found 75 miles east of Rapid City, in southwestern South Dakota.
Basic Information
Food & ShoppingThe park itself hosts the Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant with a variety of local and regional cuisine.
Basic Information
WeatherSpring and fall will offer pleasant weather for visitors to Badlands National Park.
Basic Information
SafetyThe ever-changing weather conditions at Badlands National Park require careful preparation before entering the wilderness.
Basic Information
PetsPets are not allowed on Badlands hiking trails, backcountry wilderness areas, or in public buildings.
Basic Information
AccessibilityThe Badlands were once described by George Armstrong Custer as "hell with the fires burned out," but park visitors will find it far more accessible than that.
Activities
Auto TouringSome of the most amazing buttes, spires and cliffs of Badlands National Park can be found on the two-lane Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway.
Activities
HikingThe beauty of Badlands may be experience through a variety of designated hiking trails.
Activities
Horseback RidingEquestrians are given the chance to enjoy the off-trail areas of Badlands.
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Fossil HuntingOne of the largest collections of mammal fossils from the Eocene and Oligocene periods is found in the White River Badlands.
Activities
StargazingJupiter and Milky Way are some of the night sky's beautiful jewels to behold in Badlands.
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Activities
Ranger-Led ProgramsA multitude of ranger-led programs are offered in Badlands from late May until August.
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Kid-Friendly OptionsAll curious kids who want to be explorers and adventurers can join the Badlands Junior Ranger Program.
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Learn About the Park
OverviewPrairie, buttes, and one of the world's greatest treasure troves of fossils highlight the diversity of Badlands National Park.
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Learn About the Park
HistoryMillions of years of erosion have given Badlands a visually striking appearance and remarkable geological history.
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Learn About the Park
Trees and PlantsThere's a surprising amount of flora diversity around the Badlands, given the area's harsh terrain.
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WildlifeBison and bighorn sheep are among the most prominent inhabitants of Badlands National Park.
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Scenic, S.D.The town of Scenic, S.D., is about 50 miles southeast of Rapid City, along Highway 44.
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Rapid City, S.D.A hub for vacation activity, Rapid City boasts five museums, 17 movie theaters, hotels and nearby outdoor adventure.
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Interior, S.D.Located south of the park, Interior dates back to the 1880s, making it the oldest town around the Badlands.
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Hot Springs, S.D.In the Black Hills, a reservoir of geothermal energy sits right below the earth near a town called Hot Springs, S.D.
