Camping Near Badlands National Park
South Dakota | Established 1978
About Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park protects 242,756 acres of dramatic geological formations and mixed-grass prairie in southwestern South Dakota. Cedar Pass Campground near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center offers 96 sites including 22 with 30/50-amp electric hookups. Standard sites cost $28 per night and electric sites cost $42 per night, operating late March through mid-October with a 14-day stay limit.
Sage Creek Campground provides free primitive camping on a first-come, first-served basis year-round. Its 22 sites sit along unpaved Sage Creek Rim Road with pit toilets and picnic tables but no water. Bison roam freely through the campground area. Maximum vehicle length is 18 feet at Sage Creek, making it best suited for tent campers and small trailers. The 30-mile Badlands Loop Road connects the two park entrances with pullouts at striking geological formations, fossil exhibits, and prairie dog towns.
Camping Tips for Badlands
- Reserve Cedar Pass Campground through Recreation.gov well ahead for summer visits. The 96 sites fill quickly June through August. Standard sites cost $28/night and electric hookup sites cost $42/night.
- Sage Creek Campground is completely free, first-come, first-served, year-round. The 22 primitive sites on unpaved Sage Creek Rim Road have pit toilets and picnic tables but no water. Bring all supplies.
- Cedar Pass accommodates RVs up to 40 feet with 22 sites offering 30/50-amp electric hookups. A dump station is available. Sage Creek limits vehicles to 18 feet maximum.
- Bison roam freely through and around Sage Creek Campground. Maintain 100 yards distance from bison at all times. Never approach, feed, or attempt to photograph bison at close range.
- The 30-mile Badlands Loop Road between the Northeast Entrance and Pinnacles Entrance showcases the best formations. Stop at Roberts Prairie Dog Town and the Fossil Exhibit Trail (0.25 miles, wheelchair-accessible).
RV Parks & Campgrounds Near Badlands National Park
1.Rushmore Shadows Resort, RV Park & Campground South Dakota
Nestled in the Ponderosa Pine foothills of the Black Hills near Rapid City, South Dakota, Rushmore Shadows Resort is an ideal destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts...
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2.Heartland RV Park & Cabins
Heartland RV Resort & Cabins is located in Hermosa, South Dakota, serving as a gateway to the Black Hills region. Situated just minutes from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and...
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3.Rapid City RV Park & Campground
Rapid City RV Park & Campground is located at 4110 Mount Rushmore Road in Rapid City, South Dakota, just 25 minutes from Mount Rushmore. The park is situated along the side of a...
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4.Hart Ranch Camping Resort
Hart Ranch Camping Resort is a premier destination RV resort located in Rapid City in the Black Hills region. The resort offers a variety of accommodation options including...
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5.Lake Park Campground & Cottages
Lake Park Campground & Cottages is a family-friendly resort nestled in the heart of the Black Hills, located just 30 minutes from Mt. Rushmore in Rapid City, South Dakota. With...
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6.HTR Black Hills Resort
HTR Black Hills Resort is a seasonal campground located in Rapid City, South Dakota, nestled under tall pines in the heart of the Black Hills. Open from May 1 to October 1, the...
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7.Shade Valley Camp Resort
Shade Valley Camp Resort is a 400-acre rally destination located just 10 minutes east of Sturgis on Highway 34, set along Bear Butte Creek in South Dakota. Specifically designed...
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8.Bear Den Cabins & Camp
Bear Den Cabins & Camp is a small, intimate accommodation located in Hermosa, South Dakota, just outside Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills. The property features 2...
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9.Black Hills Meadow
Black Hills Meadow is a locally owned and operated venue and campground located in the heart of the Black Hills in Piedmont, South Dakota. Surrounded by recreational activities,...
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10.Ellsworth Air Force Base FamCamp
Ellsworth Air Force Base FamCamp is a military recreation facility located on Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, offering affordable camping for authorized patrons. The campground...
Show moreShowing 1–10 of 39 campgrounds within 50 miles
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are inside Badlands National Park?
Badlands has two campgrounds: Cedar Pass (96 sites, $28-42/night, electric hookups available, late March through mid-October) and Sage Creek (22 free primitive sites, first-come year-round, no water). Cedar Pass requires reservations through Recreation.gov; Sage Creek is always first-come.
Cedar Pass sits near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center with flush toilets, drinking water, and a dump station. The 22 electric hookup sites have 30/50-amp service at $42/night. Sage Creek is 30 miles west on unpaved Sage Creek Rim Road with pit toilets, picnic tables, fire grates, but no water. The campground sits in the Badlands Wilderness Area where bison graze freely around campsites.
What is the maximum RV size at each campground?
Cedar Pass accommodates RVs up to 40 feet on designated sites, with 22 sites offering 30/50-amp electric hookups at $42 per night. A dump station is available. Sage Creek limits all vehicles to 18 feet maximum due to the narrow unpaved access road.
Cedar Pass sites are level with paved parking pads suitable for large RVs. The campground has no water or sewer hookups at individual sites, only electric. The nearest private RV parks with full hookups are in Wall, SD (29 miles north) and Interior, SD (3 miles south). Sage Creek's unpaved road can become impassable after heavy rain; check conditions at 605-433-5361.
Are there bison at Badlands campgrounds?
Bison roam freely throughout the Badlands Wilderness Area, including through and around Sage Creek Campground. Maintain at least 100 yards distance. Bison are unpredictable and can charge without warning. They can run at 35 miles per hour.
The park's bison herd numbers over 1,200 animals descended from 50 bison reintroduced in 1963. Other wildlife commonly seen includes pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and coyotes. Black-footed ferrets, among the rarest mammals in North America, were reintroduced to the park and are occasionally spotted at prairie dog towns during nighttime spotlight surveys offered by rangers.
Can I bring my dog to Badlands campgrounds?
Dogs on a leash of six feet or shorter are welcome in both campgrounds, along roads, and at overlook parking areas. Dogs are not allowed on any trail, in the backcountry, or inside park buildings. The Badlands Loop Road overlooks are accessible with leashed pets.
Many of the park's best viewpoints are roadside overlooks where leashed dogs are welcome. The Fossil Exhibit Trail and Door/Window/Notch trailheads have paved parking areas where leashed pets may stay near the vehicle. For hiking with dogs, the adjacent Buffalo Gap National Grassland allows leashed dogs on all trails and roads. Wall, SD has pet boarding services.
What fossils can I see at Badlands?
The Fossil Exhibit Trail (0.25 miles, paved, wheelchair-accessible) displays replicas of fossils found in the park, including saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and ancient rhinos. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center has original fossil specimens and the Fossil Preparation Lab shows active research.
Badlands contains one of the world's richest deposits of Oligocene-era mammal fossils (23 to 34 million years old). Collecting fossils is illegal. Visitors who find fossils on the surface should report them to a ranger and leave them in place. The park's paleontology program conducts ongoing excavations. No dinosaur fossils exist here; these formations predate the Age of Dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years.
How close is Wall Drug?
Wall Drug is in Wall, SD, 8 miles north of the Pinnacles Entrance to the park via SD-240 (about 11 minutes). Wall has gas stations, restaurants, groceries, and lodging. It serves as the primary supply stop for visitors entering from Interstate 90.
Wall Drug is a famous roadside attraction with a restaurant, shops, and free ice water since 1936. Wall also has a grocery store, hardware store, gas stations, and several motels. Interior, SD (3 miles south of Cedar Pass) has a small general store and gas pump but limited services. Rapid City (60 miles west) offers full urban services, the nearest airport, and big-box stores for major supply runs.
What is the best time to visit Badlands?
Spring (April through May) and fall (September through October) offer ideal temperatures in the 60s to 70s with lower crowds. Summer highs regularly exceed 90 degrees with occasional 100-degree days. Winter brings temperatures below zero but offers complete solitude.
Spring wildflowers bloom across the mixed-grass prairie in May. Fall brings golden grasses and comfortable hiking weather. Summer thunderstorms can produce dramatic lightning displays over the formations but also flash flooding in washes and gullies. Winter can produce heavy snow and wind chills well below zero, but clear winter days offer striking views of snow-dusted buttes. The park is open year-round.
What is the entrance fee for Badlands?
The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Motorcycles cost $25 and individual entry on foot or bicycle is $15. An annual Badlands pass costs $55. The America the Beautiful pass ($80) covers all federal recreation sites.
Entrance fees are collected at the Northeast Entrance and Pinnacles Entrance stations. The Sage Creek Rim Road entrance on the west side does not have a staffed entrance station. Eight fee-free days occur annually. The park pass also covers the adjacent Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Seniors age 62 and older qualify for the $80 lifetime America the Beautiful senior pass.
Quick Facts
- Entrance Fee
- $30/vehicle (7 days)
- Best Time to Visit
- April – May, September – October
- Nearest Town
- Interior, SD, Wall, SD, Rapid City, SD
- Elevation
- 2,460 – 3,282 ft
- Park Size
- 242,756 acres
- Annual Visitors
- ~1.4 million