Entrance Fee
$30.00
/ Entrance - Private Vehicle
Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Ben Reifel Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Miza AI
Plan your Badlands trip
About the 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.
What to See & Do
Badlands Astronomy Festival
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.
Badlands Ranger Programs
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 times.
Hiking the Badlands
Interested in hiking at Badlands National Park? Read about rules, official trails, and the park's open hike policy here.
Visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center
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 bookstore.
Enjoy the Night Sky
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.
Become a Badlands Junior Ranger
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.
Self-Guided Tours
Driving tour and a short hike
Are you only passing through the Badlands? This tour takes you off the freeway and through the main highway of the park. You'll begin by stopping by one of our stunning overlooks and then taking a short 1.5 mile hike along Notch Trail. From there, you'll head to the visitor center and then drive the famous loop road with several overlooks marked along the way.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a self-guided, fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so please feel free to touch. Braille is incorporated into the exhibits.
Visitor Centers
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Located at park headquarters, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center features exhibits, an air conditioned theater,and restroom facilities.
White River Visitor Center
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.
Where to Stay
Cedar Pass Campground
Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Cedar Pass Campground has 96 level sites with scenic views of the badlands formations. This campground offers flush toilets and coin operated showers in the summertime.
Sage Creek Campground
Sage Creek Campground is a primitive campground. There is no charge to stay here and camping is available on a first come first serve basis. The campground rarely fills to capacity.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Badlands National Park is located 75 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota. Physical Addresses for GPS* Park Headquarters: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750. Northeast Entrance (I-90, Exit 131): 21020 SD Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750. Pinnacles Entrance (I-90, Exit 110): 24240 Hwy 240, Wall, SD 57790. Interior Entrance: 20640 SD Hwy 377, Interior, SD 57750.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Badlands National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$30.00Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
Entrance - Motorcycle
$25.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $15 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest
Commercial Entrance - Van
$50.00Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$60.00Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$150.00Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$55.00This 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.
Operating Hours
Badlands National Park
The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Photos
The yellow mounds are peaking out of the formations in this photo.
Badlands formations are very rugged and often have sharp peaks.
Jagged badlands buttes extended in horizon amid yellow flowers under a blue sky.
road leading between snow covered badlands formations
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Build your Badlands itinerary
Tell Miza your dates, pace, and interests—get a day-by-day plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
2-4 days
Planning Badlands
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.