All parks › Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- July[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 1,139,361[3]
- Campgrounds
- 2[4]
Badlands National Park is a national park in South Dakota run by the National Park Service[5]. NPS lists a $30 entrance fee for a private vehicle, good for 7 days[1], and entry is cashless[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $30 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $25 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[6].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[11] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[11] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[11] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[11] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[11] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[11] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says the park is open all year, apart from closures for weather[12]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 232,859 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month that year was January with 9,962 visits[2]. NPS describes the weather as changeable, with hot, dry summers, occasional violent thunderstorms, and sudden hail and the odd tornado[13]. Winters tend to be cold, and NPS lists 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall[13].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 9,962 |
| February | 10,111 |
| March | 26,683 |
| April | 46,381 |
| May | 125,814 |
| June | 221,824 |
| July | 232,859 |
| August | 214,978 |
| September | 143,478 |
| October | 75,430 |
| November | 18,790 |
| December | 13,051 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 2 campgrounds in the park[4]. Cedar Pass Campground has 100 sites and Sage Creek Campground has 22 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly fees for an individual site from $37 to $47[4]. The annual park pass does not cover camping, according to NPS[9].
- Cedar Pass Campground, 100 sites[4]
- Sage Creek Campground, 22 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be on a leash of six feet or less, or kept in a crate or cage, wherever they are allowed[14]. Pets cannot go into public buildings, and service animals are an exception[14]. Each park can close extra areas to pets, so check the park page before you bring a dog[14].
Before you go
- Bring a card or phone payment, since NPS says entrance fees are cashless[6].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- NPS lists an Annual Entrance - Park pass for $55 that covers one private vehicle and the people in it[9].
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center and White River Visitor Center are the 2 visitor centers NPS lists[15].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Badlands National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle and its passengers, valid for 7 days[1]. The motorcycle fee is $25 for 7 days and admits up to 2 motorcycles[7], and a person on foot or bike pays $15[8].
- When is the best time to visit Badlands National Park?
- The park is open all year except for weather closures[12]. July had the most visits in 2025 with 232,859[2], and January had the fewest with 9,962[2].
- Are dogs allowed in Badlands National Park?
- Where pets are allowed, the national rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate or cage[14]. NPS lists pets as permitted for 12 of the 21 things to do it describes, including the campgrounds[16].
- Can you camp in Badlands National Park?
- Yes. NPS and Recreation.gov list 2 campgrounds, Cedar Pass with 100 sites and Sage Creek with 22 sites[4]. NPS lists individual site fees from $37 to $47 per night[4].
- Does Badlands National Park take cash?
- Not for entrance fees. NPS says entrance fees are cashless, so pay by card or mobile payment[6].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 1,224,226, 2022: 1,006,809, 2023: 1,046,400, 2024: 1,094,245, 2025: 1,139,361. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Badlands National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Badlands National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in South Dakota. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Badlands National Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Badlands National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Badlands National Park: The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures. National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Badlands National Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 2 (Ben Reifel Visitor Center, White River Visitor Center). National Park Service
- NPS lists 21 things to do at Badlands National Park: Badlands Ranger Programs, Hiking the Badlands, Become a Badlands Junior Ranger, Badlands Astronomy Festival, Visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Enjoy the Night Sky, Campgrounds, Visit the White River... National Park Service