Plan Your Day Trip Itinerary to the Badlands National Park

Apr 17, 2025

Our next National Park destination guide is for the Badlands in South Dakota, open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so there’s always something to see and do. Renowned for its diverse ecosystems teeming with wildlife, rugged beauty featuring landscapes with unique geological formations and breathtaking terrain, and rich history, it’s a top notch spot. The best times to visit for a quiet excursion would be Autumn followed by Spring (although, prepare for those April showers!) with Summer being hands-down the busiest time. Now that you’ve got your calendar dates set, we’ll work on our itinerary to explore just a fraction of this park’s whopping 244,000 acres of parklands.

Why visit the Badlands? What Makes it so special?

The first thing you’ll notice are the park’s plentiful buttes, mesas and geological formations, thanks to millions of years of erosion due to rain and winds. The valleys and plains are home to some unique fossil beds with finds such as prehistoric horses and even saber-toothed wildcats. If you[‘re looking for thrills and exhilaration, you’ll find it with a range of activities from hiking to roughin’ it with backcountry camping and backpacking, as well as mountain biking and cycling. Plus, it’s a wonderful place to do some serious stargazing thanks to its dark skies and open spaces unfettered by metropolitan lights and civilization.

The Visitor’s Center is a great place to start your trip. The rangers there will help guide you to the best hikes and areas for your party’s skill levels and experience, so you’ll find the most advantageous options. This will help you maximize your comfort, and reduce your stress so you can actually kick back and experience all the fun there is to be had!

It’s important to note that pets are prohibited from public buildings, backcountry areas, the Badlands Wilderness Area, and protected prairie dog colony regions. Your pets are only allowed in the campgrounds and picnic areas, gravel or paved roads, and the parking lots. All pets MUST be leashed no longer than 6ft, and you’re required to pick up their waste and dispose of it safely.

The park is also known for its heavy silt and sediment, thanks to the bentonite clay in the rock formations. Make sure that if you’re hiking or camping out here, you pack plenty of water as none of the groundwater or springs host potable water for humans.

What Must-See spots are in and around this magnificent national park?

There are 25 designated trails in the Badlands, and pets are prohibited from these areas for the safety of you and the wildlife. Easy-to-moderate trails that visitors recommend are the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, Notch Trail, Door Trail, Window Trail, and the Fossil Exhibit Trail to get you started.

The Badlands Loop Road Scenic Drive is a mini road trip in a road trip, taking you along a 2 lane 31 mile long road with plenty of spots to stop and appreciate the scenery. Visitors and rangers recommend stopping off at places like Big Badlands Overlook, Cedar Pass, Norbeck Pass, Panorama Point, Conata Basin Overlook, Pinnacles Overlook.

Roberts Prairie Dog Town is an incredible stop if you’re looking to do some wildlife spotting. You’ll catch plenty of magnificent creatures including the majestic bison, charming little prairie dogs, impressive Bighorn Sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, foxes, and plenty of birds.

Outside the park limits but just a short drive away, you’ll be able to see even more National Monuments and historic sites. Some of these include the historic Wall Drug, which is great for a food break and a quirky stop to visit with kids and teens; Wind Cave National Park; Custer State Park, and even the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.