Planning a Trip to the Badlands
Planning a trip to Badlands National Park – our first stop on our yearlong honeymoon in our home on wheels!
Our first stop on our one-year honeymoon was to Badlands National Park, located in South Dakota. We visited at the end of September and had weather ranging from high 80s during the day, to low 50s throughout the night.
Trails To Hike in Badlands National Park
Notch Trail is a simple one-mile hike. There is a ladder to climb and narrow ridges to walk that lead you to an amazing view of the Badlands. This was a fun hike! However, I highly encourage doing this hike at sunrise to beat the crowd. If not, you’ll be waiting to take your turn at climbing the ladder, which you need to take to get up in the beginning, and back down at the end of the hike.
Castle trail is a one-way, five mile trail that walks through the badlands, buttes, and prairie. Castle and Medicine Root trail is a 6.6 mile, moderate level hike. And the Castle and Saddle Pass trail is a 3.4 mile, difficult level trail. The trails listed are all in the same general area, so feel free to pick and choose what trail you want to hike when you arrive.
Where To Camp in the Badlands
We stayed at Sage Creek Campground our first night, a first-come, first-served campground with 22 sites available. I personally love this campground as prairie dogs and buffalo come right next to your campsite. It’s a sight to see!
For our second night, we did dispersed camping at The Wall, a campground where you camp at the ridge of a cliff. We heard of this place before and have been eager to try it out. Let’s just say, it’s unlike any other place we’ve stayed at. Be aware it is extremely windy and dusty. Either way, we highly recommend!
Things To Do in the Badlands
- Drive the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) for some astonishing views of Badlands National Park, stopping along the way at the different lookouts.
- Drive Sage Creek Rim Road. Be on the lookout for bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, prairie dogs, and coyotes!
- Visit Wall Drug to pick-up a South Dakota souvenir! As you’re getting to Wall Drug, be sure to also enjoy all the billboards along the way, you won’t be able to miss them 😂
- If you don’t plan to camp in the Badlands, I highly recommend you visit Sage Creek Campground to have lunch with the prairie dogs. We had lunch here when we did our epic road trip a few summers back. It was a memory I won’t forget!
If you’re planning a trip to Badlands National Park, be sure to use this blog post for inspiration!
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