Badlands has a ton of beautiful overlook stops and places to explore. Driving along the 31 mile Scenic Loop Byway, you’ll be to see all the wonders Badlands National Park has to offer.
Door Trail
This is one of our favorites! It’s a short walk to an opening that allows you to climb and touch the remarkable landscapes.
TIP: There are drops and sharp edges at Door Trail. If you have young children, be cautious if choosing to stop here. Also, rattlesnakes inhabit Badlands National Park so be aware of your surroundings. Additionally, it can be very hot in the summer – don’t forget sunscreen and water!
Fossil Exhibit Trail
This is one that kids will love! It’s an easy 1/4 mile trail that features fossil replicas and exhibits of now extinct creatures that once roamed The Badlands.
Yellow Mounds Overlook
One of the most stunning overlooks in the park! It’s amazing to come across this rather lush area within The Badlands and the shades of color will awe you.
Panorama Point
One of the most popular spots for pictures. Panorama Point is the perfect location to catch the amazing sunsets in the Badlands.
Badlands has been on my bucket list for a while, and your description of the landscape being like a cross between the surface of Mars and sand castles is intriguing! I’ve never seen a prarie dog in real life, and honestly, I didn’t know what one looked like until I saw your photo, how cute!
We have been to the Badlands multiple times! Such a cool place to visit! Great guide on it!
Great and informative post, hoping to visit the US for the first time this year and tour some national parks, hopefully this one included! Loved the bit about the history of prehistoric animals in the park and the origins of the name. Think I’d love prairie dog town, never seen one before!
Thanks for sharing-lots of helpful tips. I’m glad I found your post-I am planning a trip to Badlands in a couple of months with my daughter, this will come in handy. Saving for future planning.
Really great guide, I love that you’ve included a list of hikes with details because I’m always on the lookout for a good hike. I won’t lie, the rattlesnakes will have be terrified but I think you can hear them when they’re nearby so I’d just run the other way. Beautiful views, knew nothing about this park.
I’ve never been here but it love this guide and how informative it is! I know exactly what to expect, even though I don’t have a family yet. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Such a detailed itinerary and looks like a fun filled day! We have a Badlands park in Canada too!
Thanks for sharing this useful guide
Love South Dakota! Went there for the first time last year and was surprised at how much I loved it. So much to do and see there. The Badlands felt like being on a different planet. I think it’s definitely an underrated place to visit! 😁
Great post with lots of details. The badlands do look great. One more to add to the agenda when planning our next US road trip.
Ah, that’s so sweet! Thanks for putting this together Nicole. It seems you all have a wonderful time during your visit in this park. I hope we can visit someday! Thank you.
It looks amazing!
We were near here a couple years ago. I wanted to go so bad! But we were driving 1700 miles with a moving van and 6 kids, and had a deadline. Someday I want to go see them tho!
looks SO amazing! I’ve always wanted to visit the Badlands!! Thank you sooo much for all the tips!!
I loved going to the Badlands as a kid and can’t wait to return with my boys in tow!
This looks beautiful and we love hiking so this would be perfect for us. I’m gonna tell my husband about this!
This national park looks so dreamy! I love hiking. Added to my bucket list now 🙂
Those shapes really do look like sand castles! It really good that some of the trails allow kids to climb and really explore the amazing scenery! I’d be happy just to hike and look, but I know if I took my nephew, he’d want to get closer!!
What great pictures! I used to live in South Dakota and this post really brought me back. I miss that place. Excellent overview.
Such a detailed and informative post. The place seems great to hike with kids and watching the wildlife is an added advantage.
Wow.. badlands landscape look like a different planet altogether! We love visiting national parks.. gotta add this to my soon go to list 🙂
I remember going to the Badlands as a kid and loving it! What a cool trip; looks like you guys had a blast!
Badlands really hadn’t been on my list of national parks I wanted to see but now that i know there’s so much to see and the wildlife here you’ve changed my mind.
This is great. My 8 year old is currently planning a trip for us to take to the Ingalls Homestead and on the way home wanted to pass through Badlands National Park. I am going to share this post with her to help give her some ideas.
Agree with @Lauren! Gotta add this one to my list – thanks!
Wonderful guide! So much helpful information for trip planning. Hoping to do a cross country trip someday!
This looks like a really fascinating place to visit! Thanks for such a detailed and informative guide. Especially love that super cute prairie dog picture! 🙂
Wow this place is incredible! Reminds me of the Utah and Colorado area.
Wonderful ! so complete! thank you for sharing!
Wow amazing landscape, so many trails and animals. Even the fosils
can be found. Amazing family idea..