Badlands National Park is remote enough that most visitors combine it with a Black Hills trip, and Wall, South Dakota — the park's unofficial gateway — has its own quirky roadside history worth a stop. Here's how to round out a Badlands visit.
Wall Drug
Wall, just outside the park's northern entrance, is home to Wall Drug — a sprawling roadside attraction that grew from a Depression-era pharmacy offering free ice water into a full Western-themed complex of shops, a cafe, and life-size dinosaur statues. It's a genuinely fun, kitschy stop and one of the most famous roadside attractions in the country.
Combine It With the Black Hills
Badlands sits about an hour east of Rapid City and the Black Hills, making it easy to pair with Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse Memorial into a single multi-day South Dakota loop.
Sage Creek Wilderness Area
For a quieter, less-visited side of the park, the unpaved roads through the Sage Creek Wilderness Area on the park's north side offer some of the best chances to see free-roaming bison herds away from the main loop road crowds. Browse Badlands and Black Hills tours and experiences below to plan your trip.
Pack for the Prairie
Open, exposed terrain calls for sun protection and extra water. The VacationGrabs Vintage Leather Backpack is a durable option for a Badlands day.
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