244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires with no sign of civilization in sight except for nature lovers welcomes one million visitors each year from all over the world to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park.

During one of my mini national parks roadie tour out west last year, my first stop was South Dakota.

Until recently, I wasn’t a fan of visiting North or South Dakota. I was always told the land was flat and there was nothing there.

Badlands National Park

I only planned on staying for 24 hours to visit Badlands National Park as I did the touristy things years ago, but then as I was talking with locals, something caught my attention on things to do, something caught my attention.

South Dakota has two national parks. Say what? In other words, national memorials Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse are not the only places to visit.

I extended my stay another day and proceeded to map out to see how far away each place of interest was.

I am not a morning person, but I sure get over being tired upon seeing a good sunrise with buttes and spires standing tall as the backdrop.

I recommend you stay in Rapid City. It’s easy to do a loop starting with Badlands National Park around South Dakota to see these places in one day by getting up early in the morning,

Planning Your Visit

Buttes and spires sculpted by rain and erosion create a spectacular scenery of vibrant colors of red and white sandstone.

Weathering and erosion change the shape of stone formations to picturesque visions of multi-colored beauty of jagged rock formations and the variety of wildlife in the Badlands of the Dakotas can be seen to the left and right of you.

As you drive the 60-minute scenic loop (Highway 240 Loop Road), it can be tricky to know if you have arrived at Badlands National Park.

As you near closer to the entrance, your first clue with be cars suddenly pulling over and getting out of their cars.

At first, I thought an accident occurred involving hitting a wild animal. Just the opposite.

Visitors were taking pictures of bison rolling around on the prairie grass unfazed by the attention they were getting.

You can be injured by bison. Enjoy the nature photography moment by keeping a safe distance of 100 years.

The national park is open year-round. The Badlands weather can change within minutes.

Thunderstorms can produce lightning, hail, high winds, and tornadoes.

The summer is hot and dry. Be sure to carry and drink one gallon of water per person and per day.

Entrance fees into the park range from $0 using an interagency senior, annual senior, access, or military pass to $150 for commercial tours.

An annual pass is free for the military for current U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as well as Reserve and National Guard members.

The annual pass can be obtained in person by visiting a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).

To find the nearest location, please reference this pass issuance listing.

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

Open year-round, Ben Reifel Visitor Center has several interactive exhibits and a theater that shows a park film. When planning your visit, don’t be afraid to speak with a Ranger about the best trails to hike.

The distinct colors and appearances of the towering spires and flat-topped tables are like looking back in time 28 to 30 million years ago.

Each color of these rock layers is deposited by wind, water, volcanic ash, ancient rivers, and fossils.

Cedar Pass Lodge

Visiting Badlands National Park shouldn’t be rushed.

I spent a couple of hours there. As I drove away to the next point of interest attraction, I quickly realized spending half a day exploring the national park wasn’t enough.

Had I done my research a little more and known that a lodge and restaurant were at this unique destination, I would have adjusted my travel itinerary and stayed overnight at Cedar Pass Lodge.

Thankfully, I know I will be back to visit over and over again.

Hiking in the Park

There are plenty of hiking trails to see native wildlife (black-footed ferret, swift fox, bighorn sheep, bison, prairie dogs) wonderful skyscapes, and learn about the geological and paleontology history of the badlands by attending a Ranger-led program.

• Door Trail: .75 miles/1.2 km (round trip)

• Window Trail: .25 miles/40 km (round trip)

• Notch Trail: 1.5 miles/2.4 km (round trip)

• Castle Trail: 10 miles/16 km (round trip)

• Cliff Shelf: .5miles/.8 km (round trip)

• Saddle Pass: .25 miles/.40 km (round trip)

• Medicine Root Loop: 4miles/6.4 km (round trip)

• Fossil Exhibit Trail: .25 miles/.40 km (round trip)

Attractions, National & State Parks

Road trips are the best ways to take in the scenery visually and find a greater appreciation for national and state parks.

Immerse yourself by exploring the Black Hills and Badlands nearest attractions, national and state parks:

• South Unit (south of Highway 44) of Badlands National Park

• Mammoth Site

• Wind Cave National Park

• Custer State Park

• Crazy Horse Memorial

• Mount Rushmore

• Wounded Knee via Scenic or Kyle

• Black Hills National Forest

• Minuteman Missle National Historic Site

• National Grasslands Visitor Center U.S. Forest Service

• Jewel Cave National Memorial

• Devils Tower National Park

Once you visit, you will want to come back and explore again and again.

If visiting all 61 national parks is on your bucket list, check out my post on Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.