Badlands National Park covers 242,756 acres in South Dakota. It became a national park on November 10, 1978, the 38th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 1,139,361 recreation visits in 2025, the 26th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Badlands
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Badlands: May and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 233,872 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.5 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: January (10,443 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Badlands, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 4 hikes and 17 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 2 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Ben Reifel Visitor Center: Cowboy Corner, 2.5 miles away. Closest airport Rapid City Regional Airport (38 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hiking the Badlands (1 to 5 Hours): Interested in hiking at Badlands National Park? Read about rules, official trails, and the park's open hike policy here.
- Visit the White River Visitor Center (15 to 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.
- 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 mixed-grass prairie, or other designated areas of the park via horseback.
- Hiking Badlands Back Roads With Your Dog: Back country roads are a great place to escape the everyday with your pet.
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Wind Cave (South Dakota): about 2 h 25 min by car (61 miles)
- Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota): about 6 h 5 min by car (319 miles)
- Rocky Mountain (Colorado): about 8 h 10 min by car (364 miles)
- Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho): about 10 h 30 min by car (572 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Badlands National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
What state is Badlands National Park in?
South Dakota.
When did Badlands become a national park?
November 10, 1978.
How many people visit Badlands?
1,139,361 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Badlands?
May and September. July is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
