Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is a landscape full of colorful spires, pinnacles, and hoodoos which are a stark contrast to South Dakota’s vast and sweeping prairie lands.
Badlands National Park is shockingly beautiful. One half of the park is a landscape full of colorful spires, pinnacles, and hoodoos, while the other half is a vast land of sweeping sage-colored grasslands.
This national park protects 244,000 acres of striking rock formations and expansive mixed-grass prairie lands. The area is home to a variety of wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and even one of America’s most endangered species, the black footed ferret. You’ll more than likely see all of the wildlife just mentioned except for the ferrets who are very shy!
Badlands National Park has three different units, the North Unit, the South Unit, and the Palmer Creek Unit but most visitors stick to only visiting the North Unit since it’s easily accessed off I-90 in South Dakota.
The North Unit has three entrances; the Pinnacles Entrance which is closest to Wall and is accessed off I-90 coming from the west, the Northeast Entrance which is also accessed off I-90 but coming from the east, and the Interior Entrance which can be access from Highway 44 in the southeast section of the park.
Here are some guides to help you explore this highly underrated national park in South Dakota.
Where To Stay Near Badlands National Park
The only accommodations inside Badlands National Park is at Cedar Pass Lodge which is actually a collection of cabins. The cabins are very nice and were designed to resemble the original cabins built here in 1928. All of the cabins are lined with pine from the Black Hills and the furniture is crafted from lodgepole pine by a family owned business in Montana. These cabins come at a nightly rate of $189 plus tax. Note that pets are not allowed inside cabins. Cedar Pass Lodge is open late April through late October.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS NEAR BADLANDS
Badlands Motel and Campground offers basic no frills rooms and a campground that accommodates both RVs and tents. The best thing about this place is how close it is to the park’s southeast entrance. Views are spectacular and you can expect to hear coyotes, frogs and other critters during the night. Camping here is a very cool experience! Fun fact: parts of the film Nomadland were filmed here.
Badlands Frontier Cabins is located in Wall and only a short ten minute drive to the Pinnacles Entrance of Badlands. These log cabins are cute, cozy, and feature kitchenettes and western style furnishings.
Best Western Plains Motel is walking distance to the touristy Wall Drug Store and only a short drive to the Pinnacles Entrance of Badlands National Park. This affordable hotel features clean rooms, free breakfast, and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
KOA Badlands Campground is located near Badlands National Park’s southeast entrance in Interior. Campsites are very nice and shaded by mature trees. Wifi is available and kids will enjoy the miniature golf and swimming pool. Like all KOAs, this campground offers a free pancake breakfast and also has an onsite restaurant serving an early dinner.
Use the interactive map above to search for hotels and vacation homes near Badlands National Park. Recommended hotels, campgrounds, and other points of interest have also been marked on the map.
Camping In Badlands
There are two campgrounds inside Badlands National Park; Cedar Pass Campground and Sage Creek Campground. Backcountry camping is also allowed and unlike other national parks, you don’t need to obtain a permit.
Cedar Pass Campground has 96 campsites and offers both tent and RV sites with electric hookups. Each campsite has a picnic table with a shaded awning. There is an onsite coin-operated shower available for use. The campground is open from early April through mid-October. Campsites are $23 per night for tent camping and $38 per night for RV sites. Reservations for the Cedar Pass Campground can be made through contacting the Cedar Pass Lodge online or by phone at 877-386-4383.
Sage Creek Campground is a free campground with 22 sites available for both tents and RVs however motor homes, trailers, and other recreational vehicles greater than 18 feet in length are prohibited.
Backcountry Camping is allowed in Badlands National Park and unlike other parks, you don’t need to obtain a permit here. As long as you set up camp at least a half mile away from a road or trail and aren’t visible to others, you are good to go. Park at a trailhead or overlook and be sure to leave a note on the dash stating when you will be returning. Remember to always pack out your trash! For more information on regulations and where to backcountry camp, click here.
What Are Badlands?
Badlands are a type of terrain where soft sedimentary rocks have been extensively eroded. They commonly feature ravines, gullies, buttes, and hoodoos and have minimal vegetation. You can find Badlands in many other parts of the United States such as in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and Death Valley National Park.
The Lakota people who inhabited this land were the first to call this part of South Dakota “mako sica” which translates to “land bad”, presumably because the land was bad for agricultural use. Then nineteenth century French fur trappers later referred to this area as “mauvaises terres a traverser,” or “bad lands to travel across” because of the frustrating, maze-like landscape.
