Badlands National Park

🦬

Free-roaming

Bison herd

💵

$30

Vehicle · 7 days

🦴

Rich beds

Fossil deposits

🌡️

100°F+

Common in summer

🏕

2 campgrounds

Cedar Pass, Sage Creek

📶

Mostly none

Cell service

⚠️Wildlife & Terrain SafetyBison, 30+ mph▾

🦬 Bison can run over 30 mph and cause fatal injuries — keep at least 100 feet away, always. Prairie rattlesnakes hide in shaded crevices and boardwalks; watch where you place hands and feet. The eroded badlands terrain causes most park injuries through falls, especially in the wrong footwear — wet clay buttes turn dangerously slick. Summer temperatures frequently top 100°F with little shade, and lightning can strike well ahead of a visible storm. Cell service is unavailable through most of the park, so carry a map and don't rely on your phone. NPS safety info ↗

🎫Park Entrance & FeesCashless▾

Fees

Vehicle (7-day)$30

Motorcycle$25

Individual (foot/bike)$15

Annual Pass$55

America the Beautiful passes honored · cards only

🚗Badlands Loop RoadScenic drive▾

🗺️ SD-240 winds 31 miles through the park's most dramatic formations, with a string of overlooks (Pinnacles, Yellow Mounds, Panorama Point) and easy trailheads right off the pavement — the best way to see the park in a few hours. NPS scenic drive guide ↗

🏕Camping2 campgrounds▾

Cedar Pass CampgroundReservation▾

LocationNear Ben Reifel Visitor Center

AmenitiesWater, restrooms, some electric sites

Sage Creek CampgroundFree, FCFS▾

LocationRemote, primitive, in the Sage Creek Wilderness

AmenitiesNo water, pit toilets only

Full camping details on NPS.gov ↗

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (605) 433-5361 · Mailing Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750 · Official NPS contact page ↗