Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$150.00Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original Manifest
SD
Badlands National Park
Trailie
Build your Badlands itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Badlands National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Badlands at a glance
- Best time
- May, September–October
- Trip length
- 2–4 days
- Don't miss
- Badlands Loop Road overlooks
- Nearby city
- Interior, SD
Explore this park
About Badlands National Park
Eroded formations, bighorn sightings, and prairie wind exposure reward early starts.
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
1 current NPS alert
- Caution: Navigation
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 11, 2026). Official Badlands National Park page on nps.gov
Weather Information
The Badlands weather is variable and unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116° F to -40° F.
- Summer
are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms.
- Winter
are typically cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.
Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands with sudden fury.
Entrance Fees
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$60.00Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Commercial Entrance - Van
$50.00Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original Manifest
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$30.00Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
Entrance - Motorcycle
$25.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $15 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days
Operating Hours
The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Entrance Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$55.00This pass admits a single, private, non commercial vehicle and its occupants into the park. This pass does not include camping or give any type of discount at stores inside the park. Valid for one year from month of purchase.
Common questions
Planning Badlands
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.
No park-wide entry reservation is required for Badlands. Cave tours, campgrounds, or activity passes may still need advance booking — see Overview on this page for fees, hours, and what to book ahead.
