Explore detailed info of Badlands National Park , or check out our expanded coverage of the Badlands National Park area, including Badlands National Park lodging, recreational activities, and more.
Contact Info
PO Box 6
Interior, SD 57750
- Phone:
- 605-433-5361
Basics
- Type:
- Other
Description
Containing the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 37-28 million years old, the evolutionary stories of mammals such as the horse and rhinoceros arise from the 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires. Bison, bighorn sheep, endangered black-footed ferrets, and swift fox roam one of the largest protected mixed-grass prairies in the United States.
Hours + Fees
Hours:
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
2007 Hours of OperationApril 15 – June2: 8 am - 5 pm.
June 3 – August 18: 8 am to 6 pm
August 19 – Octover 13: 8 am - 5 pm
October 14 – April 14: 9 am - 4 pm
CLOSED on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day
Phone : 605-433-5361Location: Cedar Pass "Badlands Loop Road" Hwy 240.
ExhibitsExhibits focus on the cultural history, prairie ecology, and paleontology of the White River Badlands.
Nearby Facilities:Cedar Pass Lodge, operated by Forever Resorts, an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, is open from May 1 through October 15. The Lodge offers rental cabins, a gift shop, and full-service restaurant. Feel free to call 605-433-5460 for reservations.
White River Visitor Center
Hours of OperationSummer season only: 8 am - 7 pm.
Phone: 605-455-2878
Location: SD HWY 27 roughly 20 miles south of Scenic, South Dakota.
Available FacilitiesLocated on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the visitor center is operated by the Oglala Sioux Parks and Recreation Authority (OSPRA) and offers a staffed information desk, exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and water. Impromptu talks are offered daily throughout the summer season.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Badlands National Park is located in southwestern South Dakota and can be easily accessed by car. Interstate 90 (I-90) is located directly north of the park and provides access to the Badlands Loop Road. For those traveling west on I-90, take Exit 131 (Interior) and follow the signs directing vehicles south approximately three miles to the Northeast Entrance gate. For those traveling east on I-90, take Exit 110 at Wall, South Dakota. Follow signs directing vehicles south approximately seven miles to the Pinnacles Entrance of the park.
State Highway 44 provides an alternate, scenic access to the park and intersects Highway 377 in the town of Interior. Follow 377 two miles north to the Interior Entrance gate.
