About the Park
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.
Park Information
Established
1978
Size
243K acres
Annual Visitors
1.2M
Best Time to Visit
April to May, September to October
Region
Midwest
South Dakota • 43.6858°N, -102.4829°W
Key Attractions
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Compass and GPS
- Food