Badlands National Park

The Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota not too far from world famous Wall Drugs.  If you haven't heard of Wall Drugs on your way out to the Badlands you certainly will, you will be inundated with bill boards for this famous land mark in the city of Wall, South Dakota. If you are camping the campground at the Badlands National Park does take reservations and does have electric hook-ups but no water or sewer.  Water is available but not as a hookup.  We found the campground nice but the sites were not very private and all the sites are just pull off to the side of the road style sites.  The loop we stayed in was reversed so that the curb side of our camper opened to the road side instead of the interior of the loop, it wasn't a huge disadvantage but the other loop in the campground did have the correct orientation. The cost of the site was $24 a night, high by National Park standards, but it is one of the only National Park campgrounds that I have stayed in that offered electric hook-ups. 

You can see in the above photo that the doors to the campers open to the street, and it is the type of campground that easily lends itself to knowing your neighbor. 

There is a lodge a short walk from the campground that offers all of the amenities, including a restaurant, and a gift shop. 

During the summer months there are Ranger talks and night sky viewing programs.  Of course there are trails, and back country for those who wish to partake. If you do back country permits are needed and can be obtained at the visitors center and there is a nominal fee for the permits. 

The park has many spectacular views that change with the movement of the sun, best times to catch all of the colors are at dawn and sunset. The park has a number of Prairie Dog towns which will amuse the entire family with their antics. 

                                               The Badlands at Sunset

                      A View of the campground and lodge from an overlook

An entrance fee of $15 dollars is charged at Badlands National Park per vehicle and the entrance is valid for 7 days. Or you can by an annual pass for all National Areas, for $80 and it is good for unlimited admission for a year from date of purchase. 

The Badlands National Park is a great park for first time visitors to our National Parks, it's easy to get to, easy to get around and generally a little less crowded than a Yellowstone or Glacier. Take advantage of your National Park system.

Have Fun and address any comments to thenationstraveler@gmail.com

Until Next Time this is

The Nations Traveler