One Day in Badlands National Park
My first visit to Badlands National Park was about 13 years ago during a family road trip to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore. We didn’t spend more than a couple hours in the park and frankly I don’t remember being too impressed. But then again, I was only 13 years old.
Then last week my husband approached me (aka begged me) about taking a last minute trip to South Dakota. I was anything but thrilled. I wanted to visit somewhere new. New to me at least. And South Dakota is one of those “visit only once” states, right?
Reluctantly, I conceded and we booked our tickets. Sometimes marriage means packing your bags and traveling 1000 miles to South Dakota in 30 degree temperatures. I’m sure some of you can relate.
To top it all off, we arrived at Badlands National Park on the first full day of our South Dakota road trip only to discover that I completely forgot my camera’s memory card at home. Total rookie mistake. Ugh!
OK, so this South Dakota/Badlands road trip was NOT getting off to a great start. Thankfully, things quickly turned around from there.
As soon as we entered the park, we were immediately greeted by a herd of bison and some of the most ruggedly dramatic landscapes in America. So, I sucked it up and grabbed my iPhone camera and started taking in all the beauty of the Badlands. I am so glad I did. This park was AMAZING. Much more spectacular than I remembered or expected.
Side note: Wall Drug Store near the park sells SD cards. I was able to pick one up at lunch. So half of the photos in this post were taken with my DSLR and the other half with my iPhone. See if you can tell which is which.
Why Visit Badlands National Park
Badlands joined the national park system in January of 1939. It was designated a national park because of its dramatically rugged landscapes, rock formations, canyons and towering spires.
Not only does Badlands boast dramatic landscapes but it’s also home to so many wild animals. I’m certain we saw more species of wildlife in a small amount of time than any other national park I’ve visited. Badlands is home to prairie dogs, bison, bighorn sheep and others.
How to Get to Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is located about an hour east of Rapid City, South Dakota right off of I-90.
There are two airport options to fly into: Rapid City, SD or Denver, CO (6 hours away). Obviously, flying into Rapid City is the quickest and easiest option but also the more expensive. If you decide to fly into Denver, you will still have a 6 hour drive to get to the park but it will probably save you a couple hundred dollars at least.
We opted for the cheaper option and booked a flight to Denver and drove through Wyoming to Rapid City, South Dakota.
Where ever you decide to fly into, having/renting a car is a must to be able to explore Badlands.
Where to Stay
Visitors to Badlands National Park have many options for accommodations. The city of Wall (located right outside the park) offers a small variety of hotel options.
The more popular option is to stay an hour away in Rapid City where there are many hotel and AirBnB options. Staying in Rapid City also provides convenience for visiting other national park sites in the area like Mount Rushmore or Wind Cave National Park.
How to Spend One Day in Badlands National Park
#1 – Drive the Badlands Loop Road
Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) runs through the park from east to west and then meets up with I-90. Off of the Loop Road is where you will find nearly all of the notable lookouts and trail heads in the park.
Driving the Loop Road takes roughly an hour depending on how many photo or wildlife viewing stops you make along the way. Do not miss this on your Badlands trip!
The best stops along the Badlands Loop Road (from east to west) are:
- Big Badlands Overlook
- Panorama Point
- Conata Basin Overlook
- Yellow Mounds Overlook
- Pinnacles Overlook
#2 – Hike in Badlands National Park
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
This loop trail follows a board walk and climbs through a juniper forest along the Badlands Wall. Despite only being a half-mile round trip, this trail provides dramatic views of the Badlands wilderness. The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a must-do when visiting Badlands.
The Notch Trail
The Notch Trail is my #1 Badlands recommendation. The trail is 1.5 miles round trip to a spectacular view of the White River Valley. After a short distance through a canyon, the trail approaches a log ladder with over 50 rungs! Climbing the ladder was so much fun on the way up, but I have to say it was a little bit challenging on the way back down.
After the ladder, the trail hugs the side of a ledge and then opens up into what feels like a dry river bed until it reaches “the notch” with dramatic views of the White River Valley.
Other Recommended Hiking Options
In addition to Cliff Shelf Nature Trail and Notch Trail, there are a couple other trail options I would recommend:
- Window Trail: A very short 1/4-mile trail to a natural window in the Badlands Wall. This hike is an easy one to add on to Notch Trail because they share a parking lot.
- Door Trail: The Door Trail starts out on a boardwalk and then leads through a break in the Badlands Wall for a dramatic view of the Badlands. We would have liked to have done this hike during our visit but it was undergoing maintenance while we were there.
#3 – Visit Prairie Dog Town
Along Sage Creek Rim Road, you will come to Robert’s Prairie Dog Town. Right off the road, you can see dozens and dozens of little prairie dogs popping out of their homes.
Although these prairie dogs are not shy of humans, it is still very important to keep your distance and not encroach on their natural habitat.
#4 – Watch Wildlife in Badlands National Park
Badlands blew my expectations out of the water when it comes to wildlife viewing. I’ve visited other national parks that are known for their wildlife viewing opportunities (Glacier, Yellowstone, and others) but this park definitely takes the cake.
We saw several herds of buffalo, a herd of big horn sheep, dozens of prairie dogs, and a male big horn sheep perched on a cliff practically posing for a photograph.
Wildlife Viewing Tip: Most of the wildlife we spotted were near the west side of the park near the intersection of the Badlands Loop Road and Sage Creek Rim Road. I’m not sure if this is always the case, but it was in our experience.
Keep in mind that these are wild animals and the NPS recommends that you come no closer than 100 yards from any wild animal. Wild buffalo and big horn sheep have been known to attack humans who get too close.
Disclaimer: Most of these animals were visible right from the road. For safety, we did not leave our vehicles in those situations. Most of these photos were taken with a zoom lens while we were a safe distance away from the animals.
#5 – Watch a Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrises and sunsets at Badlands can be breathtaking. Make sure you set aside time to take-in one or the other.
Best Sunrise Locations
- Panorama Point
- Big Badlands Overlook
- Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Best Sunset Locations
- Pinnacles Overlook
- Conata Basin Overlook
- Hay Butte Overlook
Where to Eat Near Badlands
Wall Drug Store
I gotta be honest, Wall Drug is a hard one to miss. Billboard advertisements for Wall Drug Store start approximately 300 miles out, advertising their “Free Ice Water”. And because of these signs, Wall Drug Store has been a popular tourist stop along I-90 since 1936.
Wall Drug Store serves up country style foods. Try the Crispy Chicken Sandwich w/ fries and then spend the next hour meandering through one of the biggest souvenir and drug stores in the world.
Firehouse Brewing Co. (Rapid City)
If you’re looking for a great atmosphere, check out South Dakota’s oldest brewery located in a historic old firehouse. Firehouse Brewing Company serves pub-style food and house-brewed beers & ciders. You can even see the original fire pole in the center of the restaurant!
Black Hills Bagels (Rapid City)
If you’re looking for a delicious grab-and-go breakfast in Rapid City before hitting the trails, Black Hills Bagels in a must! This local bagel shop serves up freshly baked bagels and breakfast sandwiches that will not disappoint.
Other National Park sites in the area:
There are 5 other national park sites in the area. If you have more time, I’d recommend checking them all out on your trip to South Dakota. I have provided links to their websites.
- Minuteman Missile NHS
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Wind Cave National Park
- Jewel Cave National Monument
More National Park Adventures
Interested in other national park adventures? See all national park posts, here.
