Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota, USA. It lies between the Oglala Lakota and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations and is situated in the western part of the state. The park is famous for its colorful rock formations, deep canyons, and many fossils.
Badlands National Park Location Map, Interior, South Dakota
More South Dakota Maps & Info
Top Attractions Inside Badlands National Park
- Sage Creek Rim Road – Scenic drive offering panoramic views of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and prairie landscapes.
- Fossil Exhibit Trail – Short boardwalk trail featuring fossils and interpretive signs about the park’s prehistoric past.
- Notch Trail – Moderate hike leading to dramatic canyon views and a historic ladder climb.
- Door Trail – Easy loop trail through striking formations, including the famous “doorway” rock feature.
- Big Badlands Overlook – Offers sweeping vistas of the rugged terrain and colorful layers of rock formations.
- Prairie Dog Towns – Areas where visitors can observe prairie dogs in their natural habitat.
- White River Valley Overlook – Panoramic viewpoint highlighting the park’s iconic eroded landscapes and wildlife.
- Castle Trail – Longest trail in the park, connecting various formations and offering excellent wildlife viewing.
Badlands National Park Facts
| Official Name | Badlands National Park |
| Location | Southwestern South Dakota, USA — near Interior; includes areas between Cheyenne and White Rivers, extends across southwestern part of the state |
| Nearest City / Reference | Interior, SD 57750 (Visitor Center address) / Rapid City, SD as major nearby city |
| Latitude & Longitude (approx.) | ~ 43.75° N, 102.50° W (central-park reference area) / Park spans a broad area |
| Total Area | ~ 242,756 acres (≈ 982 km² / ~379 square miles) |
| Established | Designated as National Monument: January 25, 1939 • Redesignated National Park: November 10, 1978 |
| Managed By | United States National Park Service (NPS) — with co-management (in part) alongside the Oglala Lakota (for the South Unit / Stronghold & Palmer Creek Units) |
| Region | Great Plains / Mixed-grass Prairie & Eroded Badlands, Southwestern South Dakota |
| Theme / Concept | Dramatic eroded badlands landscape (buttes, pinnacles, spires, canyons) + vast mixed-grass prairie + fossil beds + protected grassland & wildlife refuge |
| Main Sections / Units | North Unit (with the main visitor-center & scenic “Badlands Loop Road / Wall”) • South Unit (Stronghold & Palmer Creek areas, partly within Pine Ridge Reservation) |
| Famous Features / Highlights | Color-banded eroded rock formations / spires / buttes / “the Wall” ridge, vast prairies, fossil beds (fossils of ancient mammals — horses, rhinos, saber-tooth cats, etc.), panoramic overlooks & dramatic geology |
| Ecology / Habitat / Wildlife Highlights | Mixed-grass prairie (largest protected in U.S.) • Prairie dogs, bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyotes, black-footed ferrets (reintroduced), various birds & prairie species |
| Conservation / Paleontology Significance | One of the world’s richest fossil beds from Oligocene Epoch — provides insight into ancient mammals and past climates; geologic formations shaped by erosion over millions of years |
| Visitor Access / Address | Ben Reifel Visitor Center, 25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD 57750, USA |
| Time Zone | Mountain Time (MT) – UTC-7 Standard / UTC-6 Daylight Saving (as applicable) |
| Entry & Access Info | Paid admission (entrance fees). Primary access via main entrances off Interstate 90 (exits near Wall, SD) — access via paved roads; easy loop road (Badlands Loop Road / Hwy 240) & scenic drives; hiking trails ranging from short boardwalks to longer back-country |
| Best Time to Visit / Notes | Late spring through early fall for comfortable weather and easier access; summer offers warm days but hot & dry prairie climate; winter harsh and remote areas may have limited access — check road/visitor-center status |
| Official Website / Info Source | https://www.nps.gov/badl |
Distances from Badlands National Park to Nearby Landmarks
- Wall, SD – 9 km (5.6 mi)
- Interior, SD – 40 km (25 mi)
- Rapid City, SD – 110 km (68 mi)
- Badlands Loop Road – 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Cedar Pass Lodge – 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site – 80 km (50 mi)
- Black Hills National Forest – 90 km (56 mi)
- Mount Rushmore – 145 km (90 mi)
- Crazy Horse Memorial – 130 km (81 mi)
- Jewel Cave National Monument – 135 km (84 mi)
- Wind Cave National Park – 145 km (90 mi)
- Spearfish, SD – 210 km (130 mi)
- Sturgis, SD – 160 km (99 mi)
- Custer, SD – 155 km (96 mi)
- Hot Springs, SD – 150 km (93 mi)
- Pierre, SD – 380 km (236 mi)
- Sioux Falls, SD – 520 km (323 mi)
- Rapid Creek – 110 km (68 mi)
- White River, SD – 100 km (62 mi)
- Badlands Visitor Center – 12 km (7.5 mi)
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