Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Despite its name, the Badlands are actually pretty great. The 244,000-acre region was first protected in 1939 as a national monument before being incorporated as a national park in 1978. The park’s name comes from the original Lakota name for the area which literally translated to “bad land.” This was in reference to the difficulty of traveling in the region rife with slippery clay and rough rock faces of the steep canyons throughout.
In today’s world, the Badlands are relatively easy to get around in your RV and offer some spectacular views and fantastic camping. From the ridges of the buttes, to the grassy prairie, to the canyon basin, Badlands National Park is the natural gift that keeps on giving. During your RV road trip through South Dakota, the Badlands are likely to be your most memorable stop.
Many visitors to Badlands National Park are there for one reason: to see wild bison roam the prairies. Once on the brink of extinction, more than 1,200 of these incredible creatures now freely graze throughout the area. The dedicated Badlands Wilderness area within the park exists to protect these great beasts as well as many other animals that call the area home including bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, pronghorns, and the highly endangered black-footed ferret.
Your best bet for viewing the bison herd is around Sage Creek Rim Road. If bison are within 100 yards of your vehicle, it’s best to stay inside as these lumbering beasts can feel threatened and charge much more quickly than one might think. Kids especially enjoy viewing the activity and politics of the prairie dog towns and the largest in the park is the Roberts Prairie Dog Town at the northern border of the Badlands.
Millions of years ago, ancient seas and rivers flowed through the Badlands. Prehistoric rhino-like creatures called brontotheres roamed the lands like the bison of today. Marine lizards called mosasaurs also swam in the shallow seas. They resembled massive alligators reaching up to 50 feet in length. Along with many other species, the ancient animals perished, and the unique geology of the Badlands has helped preserve their fossils.
In the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, you’ll find an active paleontology lab where scientists are constantly unearthing and studying many of the thousands of fossils that have been recovered from the area. Watch through the window as ancient history comes alive before your very eyes. Rangers and paleontologists will also be available on site to answer any questions that you may have.
If you’re tired from exploring or just want to get a lay of the land, you’ll find a number of awesome scenic drives throughout Badlands National Park. The most popular drive is the Badlands Loop. The one- or two-hour drive provides visitors with a great sampling of canyon and prairie views with ample wildlife viewing opportunities.
Sage Creek Rim Road is a favorite for its close encounters with the park’s bison herd. You’ll also have an opportunity to view bighorn sheep at the elevated overlooks at Hay Butte and Pinnacle. It will take an hour or two to complete the drive depending on how many stops your group takes.
The eight hiking trails at Badlands National Park comprise nearly 20 miles of fantastic views and are a great way to physically connect with the land. Difficulties range from easy strenuous over lengths from just a quarter mile up to 10 miles. Each trail has a unique emphasis which provides added fun for hikers.
For paleontological enthusiasts, the Fossil Exhibit Trail has a bunch of exhibits and fossil replicas to learn all about the ancient animals that once roamed the land. For those seeking heart-pounding excitement, scale the Badlands Wall on the strenuous Saddle Pass Trail. For a quaint walk along the mixed-grass prairie, seek out the four-mile Medicine Root Loop.
Congregate with your fellow campers at the amphitheater at the Cedar Pass Campground to appreciate the magnificent night sky at the Badlands. The lack of light pollution in this remote area allows you to see the universe in all its glory. During the summer months, rangers will provide telescopes and serve as guides.
As you gaze into the night sky, rangers will guide you to planets, point out constellations, and even alert the group to passing satellites or perhaps the international space station. Many visitors will also be able to see the Milky Way for the first time—a natural luxury that is often occluded by city lights. If you plan to visit in the summer, try to time your stay with the Badlands Astronomy Festival for a truly in-depth celebration and appreciation for all things stellar.
The Cedar Pass Campground within Badlands National Park is the only RV-friendly option inside the park’s borders. Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, it contains 96 sites for RV campers and some, but not all, sites have electrical hookups. You will need to make arrangements to fill water tanks and dump waste systems. You’ll also be within walking distance to the park’s only restaurant at Cedar Pass Lodge and some basic supplies at the lodge store. If you want to get your day at the Badlands started as quickly as possible, this is your best bet.
Just a mile and a half outside the eastern edge of the park, you find the Badlands Motel and Campground. Your site can have full hookup access with up to 50-amp electrical service and accommodate rigs up to 100 feet in length. On site, the campground offers a restaurant, camp store, swimming pool, and Wi-Fi.
Home of the famous Wall Drug Store, you’ll also find RV accommodations at Sleepy Hollow Campground in the town of Wall. Despite the name, there’s nothing spooky here. Nearly 60 large pull-through RV sites offer full hookup capability. Other amenities include Wi-Fi, a laundry facility, camp store, dog park, and bathhouses. For entertainment, enjoy the heated pool, frisbee golf, and other outdoor games. You’ll also be within walking distance of many of the only restaurants in the Badlands area.
About six miles off of the southeastern border of the park, you’ll find tons of family fun at the Badlands/White River KOA Holiday. For the basics, you’ve got full hookup access, Wi-Fi, a dog park, and propane. For fun, play some mini golf, rent a bike, swim in the pool, take a fun-cycle for a spin, go on a nature walk, or get a spirited game of horseshoes going. There is also a restaurant on site where guests can purchase hot meals for breakfast and dinner.
For a more affordable, no-frills option, take a look at the Minuteman RV Park. If you were planning to see the decommissioned Minuteman nuclear missile, the park is directly across from the site. You have the option for full hookup sites and a dump station is located on the property as well. Amenities include a laundry facility, bathhouse, Wi-Fi, and a swimming pool.
The Cedar Pass Restaurant near the park’s only RV campground is a good representative of the region’s food scene. Traditional bacon and egg breakfasts, bison burgers and sandwiches for lunch, and steak and chicken for dinner. One particularly unique menu item is the Sioux Indian tacos made with homemade fry bread and bison taco meat. The restaurant also features local South Dakota brewed beer and wine if you care to partake.
You’ve honestly got only one town with dining options anywhere near the Badlands. Head up to Wall about seven miles away and you’ll find a few grills, a couple of Mexican places, and an American café or two. There are also a number of chain fast food places if you’re looking for a quick bite. If you’re looking for something different, you’ll have to head to the grocery store and put that rental RV kitchen to good use.
No matter where you stay, the rugged and colorful beauty of Badlands National Park will be a wonderful memory to look back on for years to come. Don’t delay, plan your South Dakota RV road trip today!