Badlands National Park (Mako Sica)

Distance from Rapid City: 56 minutes (62 miles)

Just 60 minutes east of Rapid City, the landscape begins to shift. Rolling prairie suddenly gives way to jagged spires, layered rock formations, and sweeping canyons that feel almost impossible to describe until you see them for yourself. Badlands National Park stretches across more than 244,000 acres of rugged beauty, where ancient geology, roaming wildlife, endless skies, and quiet solitude create one of the most unforgettable landscapes in the American West.

Open year-round, the Badlands transform with every season. Summer paints the prairie in vibrant greens beneath dramatic sunsets. Winter dusts the formations with snow, turning the park into a silent and surreal wonderland. No matter when you visit, every curve in the road reveals another breathtaking overlook, another layered canyon, another reminder of how wild this place truly is. Drive the Badlands Loop Road, hike beneath towering rock walls, watch bighorn sheep scale impossible cliffs, and stay after dark for some of the clearest stargazing in the country. Sunrise and sunset are especially unforgettable, when the formations glow in shifting shades of gold, pink, orange, and deep crimson across the horizon.

Long before it became a national park, this land carried deep meaning for the Indigenous peoples who lived alongside it. The Lakota called it Mako Sica, literally translated as “bad lands,” a name inspired by the harsh terrain and unforgiving conditions. While difficult to cross and unsuited for permanent settlement, the region remained deeply connected to tribal life for generations. Its dramatic landscape served as a place for hunting, gathering materials for tools, and spiritual ceremonies rooted in the powerful presence of the land itself.

French fur trappers later gave the region a similar name: “les mauvaises terres à traverser,” or “bad lands to travel across.” Yet today, what was once considered harsh and untamable has become one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the country, a place where the scale of nature leaves you feeling wonderfully small beneath the endless South Dakota sky.

Entrance Fees

$30/Private Vehicle Week Long Pass
$15/Individual (Hiking, Bicycling, etc.) Week Long Pass
$25/Motorcycle Week Long Pass
$50/Private Vehicle Annual Pass
Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $10 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest
Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original Manifest

Things To Do in Badlands National Park

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

You’ll find exhibits and an informational video at the Visitor Center, along with a bookstore offering resources, gifts, and educational materials. Located on the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) at its southeastern tip, next to Cedar Pass Lodge.
Season Hours:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Winter Hours)
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (mid-April to mid-May)
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Summer Hours)
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (early September to late October)
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day

Ranger Programs

Seasonal, daily ranger-led programs offer walks, talks, and presentations about geology, paleontology, fossils, night sky viewing, and more. Ask for updated info at the Visitor Center, including the Junior Ranger Program.

Badlands Loop State Scenic Highway

The grandeur and diverse landscape of the Badlands is ideal for cruising, and Highway 240 gives you the perfect vantage point at every turn of a 30-mile loop. Nearly 30 scenic overlooks provide impressive photo opportunities.

Sage Creek Rim Road

Turn off the western end of the Badlands Loop Road onto the Sage Creek Rim Road, where outdoor photography enthusiasts find diverse wildlife, including buffalo, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, prairie dogs, and numerous birds.

Fossil Sites

Badlands National Park is among the area’s most popular archeology and paleontology attractions. Fossil hunting is allowed in the park, as long as you leave all discoveries right where you find them, along with all rocks and minerals. Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab to watch paleontologists at work. A fully accessible boardwalk trail features fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures.

Stargazing

See the summer sky as never before, with a ranger-guided Night Sky Program helping you identify what’s out there in the heavens. Telescopes are provided, along with a spectacular viewing experience, thanks to the Badlands’ isolation and absence of artificial lighting.

Prairie Dog Town

Prairie Dog Town is on the Sage Creek Rim Road, where a homestead has been converted to a massive network of tunnels where you can see black-tailed prairie dogs up close. They join 39 mammal species of the prairie animals that thrive in Badlands National Park, along with various reptiles, amphibians, birds, and 69 butterfly species.

Hiking

A variety of designated hiking trails let you explore Badlands National Park at a deeper level. It’s a good idea to check in at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for recommendations that suit your experience level. Bicycling is also popular in the park, with resources available to help you plan the right course.

Learn More About Badlands National Park

The geologic processes of deposition and erosion is what created the bizarre terrain found in Badlands National Park. Deposition is the buildup of sediment, soil, and rocks, and this process began about 75 million years ago. Erosion is the process of these layers wearing away, which began about 500,000 years ago. In fact, according to the Badlands National Park website, the formations in this park are eroding away at a rate of one inch per year.

When the Lakota first discovered this intimidating landscape, they called the area “mako sica” or “land bad.” Important hunting grounds for 11,000 years, the Badlands continue to be a region of great spiritual significance to American Indians, making a visit an essential addition to your Native American Discovery journey.

The early Lakota found large fossilized bones, seashells, and turtle shells. As westward migration brought settlers, trappers, and hunters to the area, paleontological interest grew, making the White River Badlands popular fossil hunting grounds in the mid-1800s. The area contains the richest deposits of Oligocene mammals known, giving us a glimpse of the area’s residents 33 million years ago.

Pet Policy

Pets are allowed in Badlands National Park, but with some restrictions. They must be kept on a leash, no longer than 6 feet, at all times, and are only allowed in developed areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails, in public buildings, and backcountry areas. Although prohibited on hiking trails, the park does offer other opportunities to take in great views with your four-legged family member.