What is the best time of day to see the Badlands?

Start to Finish: Park rangers suggest spending two full days to truly experience the park, but you can certainly visit in less time. If you have one full day to spend, plan on being at the park for both sunrise and sunset - the light cast over the Badlands is incredible.



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

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Start to Finish: Park rangers suggest spending two full days to truly experience the park, but you can certainly visit in less time. If you have one full day to spend, plan on being at the park for both sunrise and sunset - the light cast over the Badlands is incredible.

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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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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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Is It Worth It? Yes, it is worth it to stop at Wall Drug. It is very likely going to seem like just a “tourist trap” to many, but it does have a very important function…a last chance for food, restrooms, and drinks for at least an hour and maybe even more if you are heading East.

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It was unanimous that the Natural Entrance Tour is the best tour to take. You can see the natural entrance of the cave and the extensive boxwork.

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