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Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park Information

Badlands National Park Location Jackson, Pennington, and Shannon counties, South Dakota, U.S.
Badlands National Park Nearest City Rapid City, South DakotaNearest city: Rapid City, South Dakota
Badlands National Park Coordinates 43°45′0″N 102°30′0″W
Badlands National Park Area 244,000 acres (98,740 ha)
Badlands National Park Established January 29, 1939 as a National Monument
November 10, 1978 as a National Park Established:
January 29, 1939 as a National Monument
November 10, 1978 as a National Park
Badlands National Park Visitors 933,918 (in 2009) 
Badlands National Park Governing Body National Park Service

Badlands National Park Genera Found in the Area

  • Alligator (Crocodilian)
  • Archaeotherium (Entelodont)
  • Dinictis (Nimravid)
  • Eporeodon (Oreodont)
  • Eusmilus (Nimravid)
  • Hoplophoneus (Nimravid)
  • Hyaenodon (Creodont)
  • Hyracodon (Running Rhino)
  • Ischyromys (Ground Squirrel-like Rodent)
  • Leptomeryx (Tragulid)
  • Merycoidodon (Oreodont)
  • Metamynodon (Aquatic Rhino)
  • Miniochoerus (Oreodont)
  • Poebrotherium (Camel)
  • Subhyracodon (Rhinoceros)

Badlands National Park Operating Hours & Seasons

Hours of Operation

  • 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Winter Hours)
  • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (mid-April to mid-May)
  • 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Summer Hours)
  • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (early-September to late-October)

Badlands National Park Fees & Reservations

Type Ticket Price
Entrance Fee
Private, Non-Commercial Vehicle $15 - Valid for 7 Days
Individual - Hike, Bicycle $7 - Valid for 7 Days
Motorcycle $10 - Valid for 7 Days
Badlands National Park Annual Pass $30 - Valid for one Year from Month of Purchase
Organized, Non-Commercial Groups $7 per Person - Valid for 7 Days
Commercial Tour Fees
Commercial Sedan, 1 to 6 Passenger Capacity $25 plus $7 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
Interagency Pass Program
Annual Pass $80
Senior Pass $10
Access Pass Free
2011 Free Dates
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend -- Jan. 15 to Jan. 17
  • National Park Week -- April 16 to April 24
  • First day of summer -- June 21
  • National Public Lands Day -- Sept. 24
  • Veterans Day weekend -- Nov. 11 to Nov. 13

Badlands National Park Camping

  • Cedar Pass Campground
  • Sage Creek Campground

Badlands National Park Hiking Trails

Trail Length
Castle 5.0 mi / 8.0 km
Cliff Shelf Nature 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
Door 0.75 mi / 1.2 km
Fossil Exhibit 0.25 mi / 0.4 km
Notch 1.5 mi / 2.5 km
Saddle Pass 0.3 mi / 0.5 km
Window 0.25 mi / 0.4 km

Badlands National Park Weather Averages

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
High - °F 34.0 40.0 48.0 62.0 72.0 83.0 92.0 91.0 81.0 68.0 50.0 39.0 63.0
Low - °F 11.0 16.0 24.0 36.0 46.0 56.0 62.0 61.0 51.0 39.0 26.0 17.0 37.0
Avg Precip (in) 0.29 0.48 0.90 1.83 2.75 3.12 1.94 1.45 1.23 0.90 0.41 0.30 15.60



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