How To See Badlands National Park- With Kids!

This was our second trip to South Dakota’s hidden gem, Badlands National Park. We have now been during peak season, and during the off season. There were some major differences between the two trips, but I will get to that later on.

What To Do

Badlands National Park is easily one you can drive through and admire its beauty, if you can’t get out or don’t have the time to. However, if you can, there are various lots for easy parking to get the kids in and out to see the park in all its splendor! The park consists of over 244,000 acres of steep canyons, rock formations, and geologic deposits full of fossils. The rock formations were formed through a process called deposition, which is the gradual build up of rocks over time. After all the rocks and minerals were deposited, they slowly began to erode, displaying the canyons and slopes we see today. The rock formations are still eroding at about one inch per year. You can see the different layers of deposits in each formation, and different positions of the sun during the day can make them even more striking to look at than they already are!

Get Out and Hike

Our kids loved climbing all over the rock formations! They’re so much fun to see who can climb up this slope the fastest, and who can hide in this cave or crevice first! There are easy boardwalks in some locations, or if you have bigger kids, you can follow different paths for a more challenging hike. We have had a toddler each visit to the park, so we chose to stick with the boardwalks. You definitely still need tennis shoes or hiking boots regardless, as climbing the different rock formations can be quite slippery!

Tip: ALWAYS be aware of what is on the other side of you. There are some steep drop offs you will not want the kids to get to first, so make sure they do not get too far ahead of you.

… Or Just Drive!

Don’t have time to get out and walk or hike? You can totally see Badlands National Park from the comfort of your vehicle! It is best to enter the park from the northeast entrance, just off of I-90. You can come in from the Pinnacles Entrance, but the beauty of the park doesn’t hit you in the face the same as from the northeast.

If you are not up for a hike or walking, or maybe you have a sleeping baby in the backseat, or maybe you’re just driving through, do not feel bad if all you have time for is a pass-through. This park is gorgeous and so fun to look at- it is fine to see if from your car if that’s what your season of life or schedule calls for!

Don’t Forget!

Sunscreen, shoes with traction, water, water, water, more water, and do not forget to look up the hours for the visitors center. During normal times, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center is almost always open, but because of Covid-19, they are operating under a limited schedule. We collect magnets from each special place we visit, so I am glad we bought one on our first visit to the park.

When To Go

Our first trip to the Badlands was in early November. We were so blessed that day with amazing fall weather. A light shirt with long sleeves was all we needed for our walk through some of the trails. The sun was shining and it was a magical time! The prairie dogs were very active that day as well, and we seen quite a few pronghorn.

Fast forward to our second visit. We went the end of July, which is peak season. There was a vast difference in the amount of visitors in the park compared to our November trip! It was still enjoyable and not too crowded, though it was very hot and we did not have enough cold water for the six of us. The prairie dog town was not as hopping, and I assume the reason being the blistering sun and humidity keeping most of them hidden underground. We did not see any pronghorn or bison, but we did see a couple white-tail deer.

No matter what time of year you make the trek, I am sure it will be beautiful and worth it!

Where To Stay

There are a few lodging options in and near the park. The Cedar Pass Lodge offers cabin rentals. There are also two campgrounds, and you can check out the National Park’s website for more details.

Where To Eat

During our first visit, we stopped at Wall Drug and ate lunch. We also toured the grounds and took pictures with the famous jackalope! If you have time, you may want to check out this iconic tourist trap.

For our second trip, we were coming from Nebraska on I-90 and stopped in a tiny South Dakota town called Burke and ate at a fantastic little restaurant, Stella’s. Throughout our entire two week vacation, it became one of our favorite meals! I ordered The Stella, which is a burger topped with cheddar cheese and grilled onions, inside two delicious slices of grilled Texas toast. It was heavenly and appeased my newfound fondness for grilled onions!

Let us know if you’ve been to or are now planning a trip to Badlands National Park!