National Park · South Dakota, United States
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is a national park in South Dakota, United States, covering 242,743 acres (98,235 ha), established in 1978; it recorded 1,139,361 visits in 2025.
Photo: Martin Kraft via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | South Dakota, United States |
| Area | 242,743 acres (98,235 ha) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 1,139,361 |
| Coordinates | 43.7500° N, 102.5000° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park (Lakota: Makȟóšiča) is a national park of the United States in southwestern South Dakota. The park protects 242,756 acres (379.3 sq mi; 982.4 km2) of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The National Park Service manages the park, with the South Unit being co-managed with the Oglala Lakota tribe.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — mild weather; summers are hot, winters cold with snow
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Wall, South Dakota |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Rapid City Regional Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes — 96 sites |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Lodges in Wall and Interior |
Famous trails
- Notch Trail — 1.5 miles (2.4 km) — Moderate
- Door Trail — 0.7 miles (1.2 km) — Easy
Like Badlands National Park? Visit Badlands National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) · Rapid City, United States · 34.4 miles away
- Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR) · Chadron, United States · 69.8 miles away
- Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) · Pierre, United States · 118.3 miles away
Parks nearby
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Custer State Park
Wind Cave National Park
Angostura Recreation Area
Jewel Cave National Monument
Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
More parks in South Dakota
Frequently asked questions
Where is Badlands National Park?
Badlands National Park is in South Dakota, United States (43.7500° N, 102.5000° W).
When was Badlands National Park established?
Badlands National Park was established in 1978, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Badlands National Park?
Badlands National Park covers 242,743 acres (98,235 ha).
How many people visit Badlands National Park each year?
It recorded 1,139,361 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Badlands National Park?
April to June and September to October — mild weather; summers are hot, winters cold with snow.
Does Badlands National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Badlands National Park has campgrounds with 96 sites.
How do I get to Badlands National Park?
The nearest town is Wall, South Dakota. The nearest airport is Rapid City Regional Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/badl/ — Official park page.