Visiting Badlands National Park: The Complete Guide

Planning a trip to Badlands National Park and need some help planning your trip?

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Badlands National Park, South Dakota.

Table of Contents

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The Quick Guide to Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve
National Park Obsessed’s Detailed Guides to Denali National Park
National Parks Near Denali National Park
- National Park Service units within a 4 hours drive
- National Park Service units within an 8 hours drive
Pin for Later: Visiting Denali National Park National Park and Preserve: The Complete Guide

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The Quick Guide to Visiting Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park Basics

Region: Midwest / Central Plains

Park Size: 242,756 acres (379.31 sq miles) (982.4 sq km)

Location: Pennington, Jackson and Shannon counties and Oglala Lakota Nation (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Closest Cities: Rapid City, South Dakota

Busy Season: June to September

Visitation: 970,998 (in 2019)

How much does Badlands National Park Cost?

Badlands National Park costs the following:

7-day Passenger Vehicle Pass – $30
7-day Motorcycle Pass – $25
7-day Individual Pass – $7

An annual Badlands National Park Pass costs $50 but it is not recommended you buy this pass. For an extra $30 you can get an American the Beautiful Pass. This $80 pass offers free admission to all 116 fee-charging National Park Units.

When is Badlands National Park Open?

Badlands National Park is open year-round.

Are dogs allowed in Badlands National Park?

Yes, pets are welcome in Badlands National Park but are limited to developed areas such as roads, parking areas, picnic areas, and campgrounds. Pets are not allowed on trails or overlooks. Please review the Badlands Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Arches.

Where are Badlands National Park’s visitor centers?

Ben Reifel Visitor Center – Open Year Around

White River Visitor Center – Summer Only

Land Acknowledgment

The park now known as Badlands National Parks is on Cheyenne, Mnicoujou, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Oohenumpa land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.