National parks2
Visits in 2025 (all parks)1,745,619
No entrance fee1
OldestWind Cave (1903)
South Dakota has 2 national parks. Together they recorded 1,745,619 recreation visits in 2025.
The parks
| Park | Established | Area (acres) | Visits in 2025 | Entrance fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands | 1978 | 242,756 | 1,139,361 | $30 per vehicle |
| Wind Cave | 1903 | 33,971 | 606,258 | No entrance fee |
At a glance
- Busiest: Badlands, with 1,139,361 visits in 2025.
- Quietest: Wind Cave, with 606,258.
- Largest: Badlands, at 242,756 acres.
- Oldest: Wind Cave, a national park since 1903.
- No entrance fee: Wind Cave.
Driving between the parks
Drive times and road miles between the closest visitor centers of each pair (OSRM estimates on OpenStreetMap roads), with straight-line miles for comparison.
| From | To | Drive | Straight line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands | Wind Cave | 2 h 25 min (61 mi) | 51 mi |
Link them into one trip with the road trip planner.
Other National Park Service sites in South Dakota (5)
Beyond its national parks, South Dakota has these Park Service sites:
- Jewel Cave National Monument: no entrance fee
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail: no entrance fee
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site: no entrance fee
- Missouri National Recreational River: no entrance fee
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial: no entrance fee
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of national parks of the United States (area from NPS land resource data, 2025 recreation visits from NPS visitor statistics)
- National Park Service: Entrance Fees by Park
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many national parks are in South Dakota?
2: Badlands, Wind Cave.
What is the most visited national park in South Dakota?
Badlands, with 1,139,361 recreation visits in 2025.
Which is the oldest national park in South Dakota?
Wind Cave, established January 9, 1903.