Are the Badlands worth seeing?

People rarely travel to South Dakota just for the Badlands, but it's worth spending a full day exploring the park by doing the scenic drive, a few hikes or short walks, and eating in the visitor center. The unusual rock formations and the potential for solitude make this park unique.



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Covering all 3 is a very full day, but it can be done with an early start. If I ran short on time, I'd eliminate Wall Drug. The Badlands will take an hour drive time from Rapid, and then allot around 4 hours to adequately see the park. Allot about an hour and a half back to Rushmore.

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You can drive the whole park in 1 day and see all the overlooks but if you want to go on some hikes or on a float trip you will need an extra day. Good luck fitting it all in and have a great trip. Helpful? We did Custer, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, the Needles, the Badlands, and Rapid City, and Mt.

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Badlands National Park charges an entrance fee. No cash is accepted.

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Things to Keep in Mind You must camp a half mile away from any roads or trails and stay out of sight of the trails & roads. Badlands is only an hour from Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore, and Black Hills National Forest. So plan a trip to this corner of South Dakota and see them all!

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