When you think of top national parks to visit, Badlands National Park may not be at the top of your list. In our experience though Badlands was quite striking, from other-worldly hikes, beautiful scenic drives, to wildlife viewing from the comfort of your vehicle. Let’s chat about how to spend two days in Badlands National Park!
Located in South Dakota, the Lakota Indians referred to this part of the country as “mako sika,” or bad land. Despite it’s foreboding name, we found the rugged, jagged terrain fascinating and breathtaking to explore during our two days in May 2022. The best part is you don’t need a ton of time to experience this park. You can easily enjoy the park in a day or so.
Top Hikes in Badlands National Park
Badlands has some awesome, short hikes that give you the full experience of the terrain and landscape. Here are three that stood out to us.
- Door Trail: If you only have time to do one hike in the park, we recommend the Door Trail. It is rated “easy” and is about 1 mile round trip out-and-back. This short hike will leave you feeling like you are on another planet, and has a big payoff for the distance. The trail starts on a boardwalk, and then you hike through the rugged terrain with numbered posts to guide you. The posts are important to keep track of because it is very easy to get disoriented with the landscape. Keep children close by. The cover photo for this post was taken at the end of the Door Trail. Go early to miss the crowds!
- Notch Trail: If you have a little more time, this is a great trail to further experience the terrain and views. The Notch Trail starts from the same parking lot as the Door and Window trails. This is rated “moderate” and is 1.5 miles roundtrip out-and-back. The “moderate” part comes in with a ladder you must climb to get to the overlook and midpoint of the trail. There is also some mild rock scrambling near the overlook, but is very doable if you go slow and take your time. The view at the end is stunning, overlooking jagged peaks and prairie.
- Window Trail: This is more of a walk on a boardwalk vs. a hike. If you are really short on time, or don’t feel like a hike, you can easily walk the .3 miles in less than 10-15 minutes and enjoy the overlook, a great place to take photos.
For planning purposes you could easily complete all three trails within 2-3 hours since these three trails are located at the same parking area. You could pack a cooler for a quick meal or snack out of your vehicle, or head just 5 minutes down the road to the lodge restaurant for food (order at the counter dining).
Hike responsibly and know your limits. If you are newer to hiking you may be thinking, what does this mean? Even on short hikes wear proper gear, including sturdy boots, sun protection, bring more water than you think you’ll need, salty snacks, and layers because weather changes quickly. Also, be sure to follow leave no trace guidelines. Pack out any garbage or waste and dispose of it properly, including human waste. We always take our backpack filled with these essentials because the unexpected can happen, especially in nature (IBS, anyone?). We typically make a quick stop at the Visitor Center in the park to talk to a park ranger about trail conditions.
Scenic Drives & Overlooks in Badlands National Park
Besides hiking, the best and quickest way to experience Badlands is to drive the Badlands Scenic Loop (Highway 240). Along the route are 16 designated places to pull over and take in the incredible views, some with short walks. This drive is stunning as you wind your way through the park, taking in the scenery. Along our drive we saw bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs right alongside the road! Be sure to respect the wildlife and stay a healthy distance away.
We also added on Sage Creek Rim Road, a dirt road that takes you further along the rim with more overlooks. Along the way you will pass Roberts Prairie Dog Town, which is something to see and hear (don’t feed the prairie dogs!). We saw tons of bison in the road along this drive, which only added to the dramatic landscape. After connecting back to 240, we stopped at the iconic Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota for our free ice water, doughnuts, and a piece of pie. At Wall Drug you can also get some silly pictures riding different animals (IYKYK). Despite being quite touristy, there is a lot of history at Wall Drug and it is worth a quick stop. You can find more restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. in Wall.
The scenic loop takes about an hour to complete without stopping. I would budget around 2+ hours to enjoy the overlooks and any wildlife sightings. If you are pressed for time you could get off Interstate 90 and take the Highway 240 scenic loop through the park until it connects back with Interstate 90 again in Wall, SD. If you add on Sage Creek Rim Road, check with the NPS to get a map, and updated road conditions beforehand because rain or snow can impact the dirt road.
While you are in Badlands National Park, definitely try to take in a sunrise or a sunset (or both, preferably!) at one of the overlooks along the scenic drive. One of the more memorable things we did in the park was taking in sunrise at 5:31a from Big Badlands Overlook. The sunrise was simply stunning, and completely worth the hassle of getting up early. The way the light hits the landscape is otherworldly. We were able to take in two beautiful sunsets from the campground we were staying at in the park, but I do regret not making the effort to see the sunset from one of the overlooks with unobstructed views.
Have I convinced you to move Badlands National Park up on your top list of parks to visit? I will be honest, we greatly underestimated this park and think it is underrated. The best part is you can easily experience this park in a day or so!
Planning Your Visit to Badlands National Park
Researching and planning ahead of time allows us to enjoy our time in the parks by setting expectations and decreasing surprises. There are some important logistics to consider as you start planning your visit to Badlands National Park. Be sure to check the National Park Service Badlands website as well, for the most up to date information.
Entry Fees to Badlands National Park
There is an entrance fee to enter the park, based on the type of vehicle and number of passengers. The National Park Service website breaks down all the fees and passes available. If you plan to visit more than one national park in a year’s period, check out the America the Beautiful pass. Don’t forget your National Park Passport book either to get your stamp!
Where to Stay in Badlands National Park
Cedar Pass Lodge in the park offers cabins, a small restaurant, and a gift shop. We were traveling in our RV and stayed at Cedar Pass Campground. This campground is very close to the lodge and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. It was an excellent location to all the hikes and the scenic drive.
The nearby town of Wall, South Dakota offers more hotel options if you want to be closer to more amenities (gas stations, restaurants, etc.).
Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
We visited Badlands in May, during shoulder season. The weather perfect for exploring, although windy at times. Temperatures were in the mid-70’s during the day, and then in the low 40’s at night.
A big bonus during our May visit was the lack of crowds! The trails were quite empty. We didn’t have to fight traffic on the scenic drive and could easily find parking on the pull-offs along the route. We’d recommend visiting during the shoulder season!
The warmest months are June through September, with average rain decreasing each month.
Are Pets Allowed in Badlands National Park?
We had our dog with us on this trip and unfortunately dogs are not allowed on hiking trails in the park. Once you experience the park it is easy to understand why due to the abundant wildlife and rugged terrain. There is one back road that allows dogs on it according to the NPS.
Recommended Gear for Badlands National Park
The climate is dry and exposed, so be sure to bring the appropriate gear if you plan to hike. You will need sun screen, sun/rain protective clothing, proper footwear (we swear by Merrell Moab boots, a men and women‘s version), salty snacks, and plenty of water. We love these Nalgene bottles for hikes, and they fit perfectly in the outside of our go-to backpack. Binoculars aren’t a bad idea either for enjoying wildlife at a distance.
Places to Check Out Near Badlands National Park
We visited Badlands National Park during a four-week RV trip to South Dakota and Colorado (Rocky Mountain National Park, anyone?) while I was on a leave of absence from work. Badlands is in close proximity to other national parks and points of interest. If you visit Badlands, check out these other national and state sites.
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site: about 15-minutes away from Badlands National Park
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial: about 2 hours away from Badlands National Park. Don’t forget to experience Jefferson’s vanilla ice cream before you leave!
- Custer State Park: about 2 hours away from Badlands National Park. Custer State Park should be considered a national park in our opinion. Tons of hiking (dog-friendly!), scenic drives (Wildlife Loop, Needles Highway, etc.), and wildlife viewing. You will not be disappointed!
- Wind Cave National Park: about 2.5 hours away from Badlands National Park
- Devil’s Tower National Monument: located in Wyoming, about 3 hours away from Badlands National Park
Let me know–where does Badlands National Park rank on your national park list? If you’ve been, is this park under or overrated?
Happy trip planning!
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