A Day Trip through Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for it’s dramatic landscape, weather that is often extreme, and prairie ecosystem. When my family visited the park during the month of June, we were in awe of the layered rock formations, steep canyons viewed from the overlooks, and towering spires. Bison, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep and more inhabit its wide spread grasslands, and we were lucky to see all three!

My family left from Minneapolis and various parts of Iowa, and met up in the tiny little town of Murdo, South Dakota. This is one of the few towns with hotels available to the East of the Badlands. You won’t find anything fancy in the hotel department to stay at but there are plenty of RV spots and campgrounds. I really loved the vibe of all the old motel signs that can be found throughout town. We got into town around dinner time after a long day of driving, and settled in to get up and explore the next day.

Mural on the wall of the Rusty Spur in Murdo, South Dakota

The next morning we drove about hour West towards the Badlands. FYI the time zone changes from Murdo to the Badlands, gaining you an hour from Central to Mountain Standard. We were excited to explore via the Badlands Loop Road, a 32-mile route that winds past multiple outlooks for dramatic views of the bizarrely beautiful Badlands Wall. On the way to the park, we pulled over for a quick stop to see the prairie dogs at outside of the Badlands Ranch Store. It has a giant prairie dog statue, which is naturally a fun and cheesy spot for a family photo.

Then we stopped at the Black Hills Helicopter Tours to get an aerial view of the park before explored it on foot. Helicopter tours in most places are hundreds of dollars and usually a minimum of 30 minutes. So I love that this company has an option for just $49 a person for a 6 mile trip. (roughly 5-6 minute ride which is perfect!)

Three of us went at a time, and the views were spectacular. I definitely appreciated being able to experience the park from above before entering the park in our vehicle.

The Northeast entrance to the park was next, and about a minute after that you’ll see the pullover for the Big Badlands Overlook! It’s a windy spot with must see views.

Next on the loop road is a big parking lot with several trailhead options on the north end - Door Trail, Window Trail, and Notch Trail. You’ll walk on the boardwalk slightly elevated above the prairie grasses. It winds around and through spires until you’ll step out to a viewing deck, 1/8 of a mile from the start. Ahead lies another fantastic view of the dramatic arid landscape.

Window Trail is a quarter mile round trip with just ten feet of elevation gain – an easy hike with yet another great viewpoint that looks out over an orange striped canyon.

Notch Trail - Is a more adventurous 1 1/3-mile hike that goes through a pretty canyon, up a long wooden ladder, along some cliffs (not a hike for little ones!), to an overlook with views over the Great Plains. This was a really fun out and back hike that took us about an hour.

We grabbed lunch at Cedar Pass Restaurant (the only place to get food inside the park), then we hit quite a few stunning options for overlooks to pull over and view.

Conata Basin Overlook

Yellow Mounds Overlook - While most of the park has red stripes in the Badlands, here there is a yellow layer formed. Its a beautiful area to look over!

Pinnacles Overlook - one of the most popular spots in the park to look out over the striking rock formations, and wildlife in the park.

After leaving the park, stop at the famous 76,000 sq ft Wall Drug for dinner, take photos with the Black Hills wall mural, the dinosaur, giant rabbit, as so much more! this

An area you can continue your adventure to is the self-proclaimed ‘most patriotic city in America’ in the Black Hills area about an hour and 20 minutes west from Wall Drug. Here you can visit Mount Rushmore National Monument during sunset. It’s $15 a car for the entrance fee to see the 60ft tall faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Or you can head to Sturgis (or check it out the following morning) and see the famous little town that hosts the largest motorcycle rally in the world. The town grows from about 6,700 to over half a million people during the rally. Check out the multi-level bar One Eyed Jacks Saloon, and sit in their motorbike barstools.

Hope you enjoyed this guide to the Badlands! It’s a truly incredible park with a unique landscape that will have you looking like the real-life starry-eyed emoji.