{"id":"nps-badl","slug":"badlands-national-park","name":"Badlands National Park","designation":"National Park","category":"national-park","categoryLabel":"National Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"BADL","designation":"National Park","sourceId":"nps-badl"}],"states":["SD"],"stateNames":["South Dakota"],"location":{"lat":43.68584846,"lon":-102.482942},"bbox":[-102.898,43.4768,-101.8898,43.9223],"acres":{"value":242879,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=43.9223&b_tl_lng=-102.898&b_br_lat=43.4768&b_br_lng=-101.8898","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Badlands%20National%20Park","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C82EE63-1DD8-B71B-0BD6EE0FDCB5D402.jpg","title":"Badlands Storm","alt":"Layered badlands formations behind fields of green grass under cloudy and billowing clouds.","caption":"Summer storms are frequently violent and unpredictable.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C82ED5D-1DD8-B71B-0B2F33D3B39D6D1B.jpg","title":"Badlands Yellow Mounds","alt":"The yellow mounds are peaking out of the formations in this photo.","caption":"The yellow mounds are peaking out of the formations in this photo.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C82EBFE-1DD8-B71B-0B21072718DB2A95.jpg","title":"Badlands Rugged Peaks","alt":"Badlands formations are very rugged and often have sharp peaks.","caption":"Badlands formations are very rugged and often have sharp peaks.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/28C2C88B-9904-7962-E60BEFC763604963.jpg","title":"Clover Landscape","alt":"Jagged badlands buttes extended in horizon amid yellow flowers under a blue sky.","caption":"The park has seasonal changes in colors so plan ahead!","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/36C156B0-F6CA-1972-F3B88C971DE39767.jpg","title":"Badlands in the Winter","alt":"road leading between snow covered badlands formations","caption":"Winter in Badlands National Park often creates snow covered wonderlands throughout the park.","credit":"NPS Photo/Brad Barker","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Auto and ATV","Scenic Driving","Astronomy","Biking","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)","Compass and GPS","Food","Hiking","Horse Trekking","Horse Camping (see also camping)","Horseback Riding","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Park Film","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store","Gift Shop and Souvenirs"],"topics":["Archeology","Arts","Colonization and Settlement","Farming and Agriculture","Military","Indigenous and Native Warrior","Monuments and Memorials","Native American Heritage","Transportation","Tragic Events","Massacres","Wars and Conflicts","Indian and Frontier Wars","Westward Expansion","Homesteading","Ancient Seas","Animals","Birds","Bison","Cats (wild)","Horses (wild)","Tortoises and Turtles","Climate Change","Fire","Fossils and Paleontology","Geology","Grasslands","Prairies","Night Sky","Astronomy","Rock Landscapes and Features","Scenic Views","Trails","Unique Species","Endangered","Wilderness"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Private Vehicle","cost":"30.00","description":"Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days"},{"title":"Entrance - Motorcycle","cost":"25.00","description":"Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers."},{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"15.00","description":"Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days"},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Sedan","cost":"25.00","description":"Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $15 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest"},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Van","cost":"50.00","description":"Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original Manifest"},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus","cost":"60.00","description":"Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original Manifest"},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach","cost":"150.00","description":"Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original Manifest"}],"passes":[{"title":"Annual Entrance - Park","cost":"55.00","description":"This pass admits a single, private, non commercial vehicle and its occupants into the park. This pass does not include camping or give any type of discount at stores inside the park. Valid for one year from month of purchase."}],"hours":[{"name":"Badlands National Park","description":"The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"Badlands National Park is located 75 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota. Physical Addresses for GPS* Park Headquarters: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750. Northeast Entrance (I-90, Exit 131): 21020 SD Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750. Pinnacles Entrance (I-90, Exit 110): 24240 Hwy 240, Wall, SD 57790. Interior Entrance: 20640 SD Hwy 377, Interior, SD 57750.","weatherInfo":"The Badlands weather is variable and unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116° F to -40° F. Summers are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms. Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands with sudden fury. Winters are typically cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.","contacts":{"phone":"6054335361","email":"badl_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Ben Reifel Visitor Center","description":"Located at park headquarters, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center features exhibits, an air conditioned theater,and restroom facilities.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-ben-reifel.htm","lat":43.74908,"lon":-101.94166100000001},{"name":"White River Visitor Center","description":"The visitor center is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation and offers a staffed information desk, exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and water. Impromptu talks are available by request. This visitor center is only open during the summer season.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/white-river-vc.htm","lat":43.511612,"lon":-102.49656099999999}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Sage Creek Campground","description":"Sage Creek Campground is a primitive campground. There is no charge to stay here and camping is available on a first come first serve basis. The campground rarely fills to capacity.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/backcountry-camping-badl.htm","reservationUrl":null,"sites":22},{"name":"Cedar Pass Campground","description":"Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Cedar Pass Campground has 96 level sites with scenic views of the badlands formations. This campground offers flush toilets and coin operated showers in the summertime.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10288228?tab=campsites","sites":96}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"minuteman-missile-national-historic-site","km":43},{"slug":"buffalo-gap-national-grassland","km":50},{"slug":"wind-cave-national-park","km":78},{"slug":"mount-rushmore-national-memorial","km":81},{"slug":"norbeck-wildlife-preserve-national-game-refuge","km":84},{"slug":"lacreek-national-wildlife-refuge","km":98}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=badl"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.606Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Caution","title":"Navigation","text":"Do not rely on GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Badlands National Park. Please note that the Visitor Center at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior SD 57750 is located just off I-90.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/directions.htm","updated":"2020-12-16 09:25:24.0","id":"nps-768A062E-B105-44FC-8F59-3605699FC4AA"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/badlands-national-park/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/badlands-national-park.geojson"}