6 Best Areas & Places

The South Dakota Badlands are an untamed region of extreme landscape with sheer cliffs and little vegetation. While the name may put some folks of the idea of visiting the Badlands, the fact is the unusual, and uncommon beauty and challenging terrain also draw many outdoor enthusiasts.

Recognizable by high cliffs, the Badlands National Park is roughly an hour’s drive from Rapid City, South Dakota, making it easily accessible for a long day trip or a weekend adventure. The Badlands were initially shared by over 22 indigenous tribes who considered the land sacred, if unforgiving. The Lakota dubbed the area Makȟóšiča, which literally means “bad lands”.

The small cities and towns surrounding the Badlands are perfect for a more rustic adventure than say flying out to Napa. They are home to awesome outdoor activities and landmarks such as the Badlands Observatory, geological museums, the Watiki Waterpark, decommissioned missile silos, and even a rodeo.

So, if this is your first time visiting South Dakota and you are considering the best area to stay in the Badlands, here are a few options. Whether you’re looking to lodge in a rustic cabin, a boutique beauty or a classic Badlands motel, we’ve got you covered!

TL;DR

Best Areas to Stay in the Badlands 

• Best area for first-timers/tourists: Hermosa
• Best area for budget travelers: Wall
• Best area for luxury travelers: Rapid City
• Best area for safety: Rapid City
• Best area for families: Hermosa/Interior
• Best area for food: Rapid City
• Best area for nightlife: Wall

Places to Stay in the Badlands

1. Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is a 242,756-acre park located in southwestern South Dakota. Badlands National Park features dramatic landscapes, awe-inspiring layered rock formations, spires, and canyons. Roaming throughout the Park are herds of bison and bighorn sheep. Prairie dogs also love the region and can be found in one of the country’s most expansive, untouched open prairie grasslands.

Want to learn more about the parks natural history? The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a boardwalk with uncovered dinosaur bones and tracks. The Badlands National Park is jointly managed by both the Oglala Lakota Tribe and the National Park Service. A wholly independent island of land in the western quarter, the Palmer Creek Unit, is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

While tours of Badlands National Park are available,…