Badlands National Park
National Park · SD
Park Closure · Notch Trail Closure for Repairs
Notch Trail and all areas within 100’ of the designated trail closed while park staff are repairing the section of the Notch trail ladder that has become a safety hazard for hikers.
Caution · Navigation
Do not rely on GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Badlands National Park. Please note that the Visitor Center at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior SD 57750 is located just off I-90.
More information
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.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/badl
- Location
- Badlands National Park (43.686, -102.483)
Track your visit to Badlands National Park
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center
- White River Visitor Center
Hours
Badlands National Parktoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3All Day
- Sun Oct 4All Day
- Mon Oct 5All Day
- Tue Oct 6All Day
- Wed Oct 7All Day
- Thu Oct 8All Day
- Fri Oct 9All Day
The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
2
- Ben Reifel Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 4:00PMDirections
- White River Visitor Centerclosed todayDirections
Self-guided tours
2
Driving tour and a short hike3–6 hours · 8 stops
Are you only passing through the Badlands? This tour takes you off the freeway and through the main highway of the park. You'll begin by stopping by one of our stunning overlooks and then taking a short 1.5 mile hike along Notch Trail. From there, you'll head to the visitor center and then drive the famous loop road with several overlooks marked along the way.
Fossil Exhibit Trail1–2 hours · 9 stops
The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a self-guided, fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so please feel free to touch. Braille is incorporated into the exhibits.
Entrance fees
4
- Private Vehicle — $30.00
Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
- Motorcycle — $25.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
- Per Person — $15.00
Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days
- Annual Entrance - Park — $55.00
This pass admits a single, private, non commercial vehicle and its occupants into the park. This pass does not include camping or give any type of discount at stores inside the park. Valid for one year from month of purchase.
Commercial rates4
- Sedan — $25.00
Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $15 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest