Badlands National Park
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
Alerts
- ClosureNotch Trail Closure for Repairs
Notch Trail and all areas within 100’ of the designated trail closed while park staff are repairing the section of the Notch trail ladder that has become a safety hazard for hikers.
- CautionNPS ↗Navigation
Do not rely on GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Badlands National Park. Please note that the Visitor Center at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior SD 57750 is located just off I-90.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleFee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $25 | |
| Per PersonFee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days | $15 | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanCommercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $15 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest | $25 | |
| VanCommercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original Manifest | $50 | |
| Mini-busMinibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original Manifest | $60 | |
| Motor CoachMotorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original Manifest | $150 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThis pass admits a single, private, non commercial vehicle and its occupants into the park. This pass does not include camping or give any type of discount at stores inside the park. Valid for one year from month of purchase. | $55 | |
Badlands National Park charges an entrance fee. No cash is accepted. Credit/debit card only. You may purchase a 7-day pass valid at only Badlands National Park privately or commercially. Private passes (private vehicle, motorcycle, or individual) can be purchased on recreation.gov or on-site, at one of the 3 entrance stations (Northeast, Pinnacles, or Interior).
Hours
| Badlands National Park | Daily · All Day |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and December the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Sage Creek Campground | 22 sites | |
| Bison often wander through this primitive campground, located on the west side of the park's North Unit. | ||
| Cedar Pass Campground | 100 sites | |
| $37 a night · Closed Oct 15 to Apr 1 | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located at park headquarters, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center features exhibits, an air conditioned theater,and restroom facilities.
- White River Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The visitor center is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation and offers a staffed information desk, exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and water. Impromptu talks are available by request. This visitor center is only open during the summer season.
Explore
Things to do
- Badlands Ranger Programs20-60 Minutes
Many different programs are led by rangers at Badlands National Park. Learn more about wildlife, geology, paleontology, and more by stopping at a ranger program during your visit! Visit this page to find program descriptions, locations, and typical…
Opens on the Park Service site - Hiking the Badlands1-5 Hours
Interested in hiking at Badlands National Park? Read about rules, official trails, and the park's open hike policy here.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Badlands Junior Ranger30-45 Minutes
Become a Junior Ranger at Badlands National Park! By completing a fun activity book, you can earn a Junior Ranger badge and pledge to explore, learn about, and protect the parks.
Opens on the Park Service site - Badlands Astronomy Festival30-60 Minutes
Celebrate the spectacular sights and science of night skies at Badlands National Park's annual Astronomy Festival. Join astronomers, rangers, and visitors for activities, discussions, and programs about the night sky.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center15-60 Minutes
There's something for everyone at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in the North Unit of Badlands National Park. Swing by the information desk, watch the park film, check out a working fossil preparation lab, enjoy museum exhibits, or stop by the park…
Opens on the Park Service site - Enjoy the Night Sky30-90 Minutes
Night Sky Viewings are a great way to see the dark skies of the Badlands. Park rangers and astronomy volunteers are available to point out objects in the night sky and help you look through telescopes.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Campgrounds
Set up camp at one of Badlands National Park's two official campgrounds. Whether you're seeing views of the Sage Creek Wilderness Area or Cedar Pass, you're sure to enjoy an overnight stay in the park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the White River Visitor Center15-60 Minutes
The White River Visitor Center is the main facility in the South Unit of the park. Be sure to stop by to pick up maps, enjoy museum exhibits, and chat with rangers about the significance of the Badlands and treaties in Lakota heritage.
Opens on the Park Service site - Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping in the Badlands can be an exciting adventure for prepared and experienced hikers. Read more about rules, safety, and recommendations for backcountry campers here.
Opens on the Park Service site - Pick Your Park Adventure in the Badlands
Pick your park adventure in the Badlands by deciding where to go next at the end of every chapter. Once your adventure is over, you can submit this activity to earn a Junior Ranger patch!
Opens on the Park Service site - Horseback Riding in the Badlands
Enjoy views of the Badlands from the saddle! Although no commercial horse rental or day rides are available in the park, Badlands invites horse owners to explore the Badlands Wilderness Area, consisting of 64,000 acres of eroded spires and…
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab
Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab in Badlands National Park, where visitors have the opportunity to engage with paleontologists and other park staff working on Badlands fossils!
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
News
- Notch Trail Closed for Repairs ↗2026-08-31
Notch Trail and all areas within 100’ of the designated trail. During the closure period, Park staff will be repairing the section of the Notch trail ladder that has become a safety hazard for hikers.
- Badlands National Park Achieves Dark Sky Park Certification ↗2026-07-17
INTERIOR, S.D. — Badlands National Park has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Park by Dark Sky International.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Badlands National Park and South Dakota
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Moon South Dakota's Black Hills: with Mount Rushmore and Badlands National ParkLaural A. Bidwell, 2022Find at Bookshop.org
Local history books for Badlands National Park
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthWestern Meadowlark 2× · Bighorn Sheep 2×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 209 birds, 48 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Broad-winged Hawk · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Screech-Owl · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Snowy Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Merganser · Double-crested Cormorant · Eared Grebe · Great Blue Heron · Green-winged Teal · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Ring-necked duck · Ruddy Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snow Goose · Trumpeter Swan · Virginia Rail · Western Grebe · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · Baird's Sandpiper · Black Tern · Buff-breasted Sandpiper · Forster's Tern · Franklin's Gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Lesser Yellowlegs · Long-billed Curlew · Long-billed Dowitcher · Northern Phalarope · Ring-billed Gull · Semipalmated Sandpiper · Solitary Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · Stilt Sandpiper · Upland Sandpiper · Willet · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Snipe
Gamebirds & dovesMourning Dove · Ring-necked Pheasant · Rock Pigeon · Sharp-tailed Grouse · Turkey
WoodpeckersCommon Flicker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsRuby-throated Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baltimore Oriole · Bank Swallow · Barn Swallow · Bell's Vireo · Belted Kingfisher · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-billed Magpie · Black-headed Grosbeak · Blackpoll Warbler · Blue Grosbeak · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Bobolink · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-collared Longspur · Chipping Sparrow · Clay-colored Sparrow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Redpoll · Common Yellowthroat · Dark-eyed Junco · Dickcissal · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Kingbird · Eastern Phoebe · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-winged Warbler · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Gray Partridge · Gray-cheeked Thrush · Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch · Great Crested Flycatcher · Harris' Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Lapland Longspur · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · MacGillivray's Warbler · Magnolia Warbler · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Northern Goshawk · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Parula · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Shrike · Northern Waterthrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Orchard Oriole · Ovenbird · Palm Warbler · Pine Siskin · Pine Warbler · Pinyon Jay · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Song Sparrow · Sora · Sprague's Pipit · Swainson's Thrush · Tennessee Warbler · Townsend's Solitaire · Tree Swallow · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Warbling Vireo · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler · black-capped chickadee · cliff swallow · spotted towhee
Small mammals13 Lined Ground Squirrel · Arizona black-tailed prairie dog · Beaver · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Chipmunk · Eastern Cottontail · Eastern Fox Squirrel · Meadow Vole · Mouse · Muskrat · Northern Pocket Gopher · Plains Harvest Mouse · Porcupine · Western Harvest Mouse · White-tailed Jackrabbit · Woodrat · desert cottontail · prairie vole · spotted ground squirrel
PredatorsBadger · Bobcat · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · Mountain Lion · Raccoon · Red Fox · Spotted Skunk · Striped Skunk · Swift Fox · Weasel
Hoofed mammalsAmerican Bison · Bighorn Sheep · Domestic Horse · Mule Deer · Pronghorn · White-tailed Deer
BatsBat · Big Brown Bat · Hoary Bat · Long-legged Myotis · Northern long-eared bat · mule-eared bat
Also on the checklistFerret
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 18 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
The Badlands weather is variable and unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116° F to -40° F. Summers are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms. Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands with sudden fury. Winters are typically cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Badlands?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Badlands?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Badlands-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Badlands takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Badlands free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Badlands?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Badlands. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Badlands open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Badlands?
Yes. The Park Service lists 2 campgrounds in Badlands: Sage Creek and Cedar Pass. 1 takes reservations through Recreation.gov; 1 is first-come, first-served.
Which Badlands campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Cedar Pass. Dump station: Cedar Pass. Electric hookups: Cedar Pass.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Badlands include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Cedar Pass is $37 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
When do Badlands campgrounds close for the season?
Cedar Pass is closed Oct 15 to Apr 1.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Badlands right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Notch Trail Closure for Repairs; Navigation.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Badlands?
1,139,361 recreation visits in 2025, number 66 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
