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Badlands National Park

National Park South Dakota

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.

Entry Fees

No additional fees

Weather Information

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.

Address

25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750

Activities & Topics

Auto and ATV Scenic Driving Astronomy Biking Camping Backcountry Camping Car or Front Country Camping Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) Compass and GPS Food Hiking Horse Trekking Horse Camping (see also camping) Horseback Riding Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Shopping Bookstore and Park Store Gift Shop and Souvenirs Archeology Arts Colonization and Settlement Farming and Agriculture Military Indigenous and Native Warrior Monuments and Memorials Native American Heritage Transportation Tragic Events Massacres Wars and Conflicts Indian and Frontier Wars Westward Expansion Homesteading Ancient Seas Animals Birds Bison Cats (wild) Horses (wild) Tortoises and Turtles Climate Change Fire Fossils and Paleontology Geology Grasslands Prairies Night Sky Astronomy Rock Landscapes and Features Scenic Views Trails Unique Species Endangered Wilderness