Admission Fees

$15 for a non-commercial vehicle, good for seven days. An annual pass for the park is $30; individual passes are $7-$10.

Nearest Major Airports

Rapid City, 77 miles; Denver, 472 miles.

Budget Airlines to Shop

Allegian, Frontier (Rapid City); AirTran, Frontier, Southwest (Denver).

Nearby Cities with Budget Rooms

As the name might imply, the Badlands National Park is fairly remote. The nearest city of any size is Rapid City, which is 77 miles away.

A quick hotel search for Rapid City shows more than 50 budget chain offerings starting at about $60/night. Bed and breakfast options in the area are fairly limited, and they start at about $85/night.

Camping and Lodge Facilities

There are two developed campgrounds in the Badlands National Park area, Cedar Pass and Sage Creek. Cedar Pass charges $15/night for sites without electricity, and $28/night for those with electrical hookups. Sage Creek camping is free, but note that it is primitive camping with pit toilets and no water hookups. Group camping rates are available at Cedar Pass.

Forever Resorts operates a lodge that is also called Cedar Pass. A cabin with private bath runs $85/night; two bedroom cabins with connecting bath: $100/night; a cottage is $115/night. The lodge is open April 15-Oct. 15. Badlands Inn offers 20 rooms starting at about $95/night (breakfast included) and operates from May-September.

Top Free Attractions in the Park

Bicycling, hiking and ranger-guided programs are among the most popular activities.

The absence of a large nearby city might complicate travel arrangements, but it becomes a big advantage when taking part in the park's Night Sky Program. The claim is on any given night, you'll see up to 7,500 stars, and viewing of the Milky Way is said to be spectacular.

Download a complete schedule of Badlands ranger programs and make plans to take advantage of this tremendous resource.

Parking and Ground Transportation

There is no public transportation in the park, so you'll have to bring a vehicle, bicycle or plan to do some hiking. Interstate 90 is located to the north of the park and provides access from exits 110 and 131. Rapid City companies offer bus tours of the park and can be hired locally.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is on the eastern end of the park, closer to Exit 131.

Driving Distance (in miles) from Major Cities

Rapid City, 77 miles; Cheyenne, 362 miles; Denver, 472 miles

Other Attractions with which to Combine a Visit

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (98 miles west), Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park.

Need more information? Check out the Official Park Web site.

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