Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota contains 244,000 acres of eroded rock formations and wilderness, including the largest protected expanse of prairie grass in the United States. According to the National Park Service, Badlands is considered one of the world’s richest mammal fossil beds. Enjoy the beauty of Badlands by staying at a national park campground, setting up camp at a commercial site or heading into the backcountry for your own wilderness experience.
Fully Equipped Camping
All your needs can be covered at a site especially for those who want a stress-free, active vacation with all the amenities. The Badlands/White River KOA campground is located four miles from Badlands National Park in a quiet setting beside the White River. The campground has RV and tent sites. With cable TV, gas, wireless Internet and hot showers, this kind of camping is a home-away-from-home.
National Park Camping
If you prefer a more natural camping experience, head to one of the national park’s two campgrounds. Cedar Pass is close to the park entrance with 96 sites, cold water, flush toilets and picnic tables available April through September. Saga Creek is a primitive camp area with pit toilets and tables but no water, 35 miles from the park entrance along a remote dirt road. There is no charge to stay at Saga Creek.
Backcountry Camping
Venture into the backcountry or wilderness for a camping experience that is much closer to nature. As of June 2010, permits are not required for overnight camping but you should contact the visitor center for more information before setting out. Camp at least half a mile from the road or trail so you are not visible. Campfires are not permitted due to the risk to prairie wildlife, so use a camping stove. Make sure you carry enough water as there is little available and be sure to take all refuse out with you.
When To Go
Badlands gets hot in the summer, with average high temperatures of 92 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Temperatures in October and November are more comfortable, averaging between a low of 39 to 26 degrees and a high of 68 to 50 degrees. Severe thunderstorms are frequent in summer. Access may be restricted in winter and during the spring rainy season due to road conditions. According to the National Park Service, September and early October are the best backpacking months.
Environment
Badlands National Park has much to capture the camper and outdoor enthusiast’s interest. It is a rugged and wild landscape with over 64,000 acres dedicated as wilderness. From your campground you can expect to spot some of the area’s wildlife such as bison, deer, swift foxes, prairie dogs and bighorn sheep. Or you could discover the remains of the animals that once roamed the Badlands and are now preserved as fossils; the horse, rhino and saber-toothed cat.
Activities
Once you’ve set up camp, head into the national park for hiking, biking and visiting the area’s attractions. There are about eight main trails in the park ranging from the accessible boardwalk Door Trail to the strenuous Notch Trail that follows a log ladder and ledge for a panoramic view of the White River Valley. Hunt for your own agates at the "agate allotment," visit the Wounded Knee Museum or learn about the great outdoors with a ranger program.
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