In some ways, Badlands is unfortunately named because it is a really cool park! Visiting Badlands feels like visiting another planet. You can hike in the park or enjoy views from the comfort of your own vehicle on a scenic drive through the park. If you’re in the area, you may also want to consider a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Rapid City, SD.
Hiking
We’ve hiked a couple of shorter trails within the park: Door Trail and Notch Trail. They both start from the same (very large) parking lot near the northeast entrance of the park. Although they are shorter in length, they are fun and adventurous trails. Note that both trails have little shade, and it can get very hot very quickly out in the Badlands.
Door Trail
- Quick Facts
- Length: Approx. 0.9 miles roundtrip
- Trailhead: Large parking area on Badlands Loop Road near the northeast entrance to the park
- Link to NPS website
The Door Trail is a fun one because you hike out into the Badlands after leaving the initial boardwalk portion of the trail. There are yellow posts marking the trail into the Badlands. It’s a short hike, but it’s so cool to be out in the middle of this unique landscape.
Notch Trail
- Length: Approx. 1.5 miles roundtrip
- Trailhead: Large parking area on Badlands Loop Road near the northeast entrance to the park
- Link to NPS website
The Notch Trail is the first hike we did at Badlands National Park. It’s also a relatively short trail, but what makes this one unique is the ladder you climb to get up to the “second story” of the Badlands. The ladder begins almost horizontally but gradually transitions to become more and more vertical. Then you get to follow the higher portion of the trail to a lookout point across the Badlands.
Scenic Driving
You can drive through the main portion of the park (The North Unit) on the Badlands Loop Road. This road is also known as State Highway 240. Driving all the way through the park on 240 will dump you back out on I-90. We drove a portion of this road while towing our trailer. There were pull-offs with designated RV parking. We drove from the northeast entrance to the White River Overlook on Badlands Loop Road. A link to a map of the park on the NPS website can be found here: Maps – Badlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
Camping/Lodging
The park does have a campground and lodge within its boundaries. We didn’t camp inside the park at Badlands. We boondocked at a beautiful spot just outside the park off Highway 240. Cedar Pass Campground inside the park does have some sites with electric hookups for RVs. This would be a great relief if you plan to be at the park in the heat of the day during the summer months. It can get very warm. More information about camping/lodging inside the park can be on the Badlands NPS website here: Eating & Sleeping – Badlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).