Finding Prickly Pear
Yellow Mounds
Saddle Pass
Sunset on Castle Trail
The Badlands National Park in South Dakota is a WILD and beautiful place.
Be prepared for it to capture your heart and your sense of exploration.
Also, be prepared for the weather…they call it the Badlands for a reason…and especially in the Summer, you can expect full exposure during the day. Thunderstorms at night are not uncommon. And with all that exposure and heat…that also brings WIND.
Ok, now that you have an honest look at the weather…here’s the good stuff!
I was BLOWN away by the amount of foliage, different types of rocks, and buttes. Even though at first glance it looks fairly barren…there is a LOT to discover.
The coolest thing about the Badlands is that you can explore “off trail” which is something that you really can’t do in most other National Parks. When exploring off trail (and on trail) I always recommend #alltrails. Make sure that your shoes/boots have aggressive tred if you are going to be doing any climbing of the buttes.
This is an excellent game plan to get you started and leave some time for off trail exploration!
Honestly, a LOT of itineraries out there are just too jam packed. (And we frequently hike 20 miles per day) I always recommend planning 1 more day then your original plan to accommodate for weather, drive time, restocking with groceries or ice, or you might even need a recovery day!
Here’s what I would recommend for 2 Days In The Badlands!
Scroll to the bottom of the post to see our TOTAL cost breakdown!
We arrived in the evening after taking several scenic detours on the way from Pipestone, MN.
Day 1:
Notch Trail
Money Spent: $0
Ok, so it’s popular for a reason. Normally, I don’t recommend things that are “over- recommended” – but some things are just too good to pass up! The Notch Trail is one of them!
You’ll get to climb up a cool ladder and then explore the buttes…there IS a recommended trail, but you can avoid the crowds by exploring and choosing your own
Adventure through the nooks and crannies of the buttes. Each direction opens up it’s own little world as you explore!
Visit The Ben Reifel Visitor Center and the Fossil Lab
Money Spent = $5 Badlands Bumper Sticker
Visitor Centers are ALWAYS an amazing place to not only learn about the park, but you can get the lay of the land and avoid the mid-day sun!
This is where I asked about hiking off trail…”It’s your park” said the ranger. “You can hike wherever you want, do whatever you want, fall off whatever you want.”
It was funny, honest, and really profound. “It’s your park” became our theme for this trip – a phrase that truly evokes freedom and the spirit of what these National Parks are supposed to be!
There is a working fossil lab inside the Ben Reifel Visitor Center! The Badlands is one of the places in America where the MOST fossils have been and are still being discovered! You can watch as they extract fossils and even learn how to report your own fossil findings in the park!
Take a Scenic Drive Around The Badlands Loop Road
Money Spent: $0 (Gas calculated as a total of the trip…$4.00 estimate)
Take advantage of all of the awesome overlooks along the way! You might even see some Mountain Goats or Bison! My favorite section is the Yellow Mounds section.
Back To Camp
Money spent: $36 per night camping – $0 Camping Option available…check our full itinerary here!
Shower = $1.25 x 2 people
Groceries: $7.86 on stir fry meat. The rest was in our pre-packed grocery container!
Cook dinner and enjoy the stars.
Day 2:
Saddlepass – or Saddlepass + Castle Trail
Saddlepass is a short, steep climb up to a point where you can literally “Sit” in a formation that looks like a saddle. Highly recommend aggressive tred…and don’t be embarrassed to butt scoot down. She is steep. While there are some exposed sections, it’s honestly not too bad if you have proper shoes. I’d call this a moderate hike because it’s so short…the way up is a lot easier than the way down.
Honestly, it’s a lot of fun. Unless you are completely terrified of heights, I would totally recommend giving it a try. It was my favorite hike in the park!
Once you get to the top of the Saddle Pass – you can cross the wash and start the Castle Trail in either direction. You can go as far as you’d like before you make your way back in the direction that you came!
Window and Door Trail (Optional)
A lot of people would recommend the Window and Door Trail, but honestly if you only have 2 days in the Badlands, it’s kinda meh,…we like to hike… and we prefer NOT seeing as many people. While the Window and Door Trail could be a good, more accessible option, that’s not us. AND what’s really cool is that you can feel free to explore off trail! If you have some extra time and want to explore more on Day 2 – put it near the end of the day!
Back to Camp
Cook dinner and enjoy the stars.
TOTAL COST BREAKDOWN
We traveled from WI, but will calculate our gas costs from where we came from our previous destination…Pipestone, MN + any gas that we used traveling around the park. We currently drive a Honda Fit.
Gas: $30.06
Lodging: $111 for 3 nights. Camping at Cedar Pass Campground. (For 2 nights it would be $72)
Showers: $7.50 (Our stay was 3 days and we both took a shower EVERY DAY …glorious…for $1.25 each).
Groceries: $32 (Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Grab our pre-stock grocery list here!
It prioritizes food that is quick and easy (we try to stay as healthy as possible AND we know that we will be burning a TON of calories). It also prioritizes food with many different uses that does not require refrigeration. Because ice is EXPENSIVE and sometimes you have to drive for miles or stop what you are doing to get ice.
Total Cost For 2 Days and 3 Nights = $180.56
Check out other campground options + $0 camping and a full and detailed BADLANDS itinerary HERE.
If you want a complete itinerary with drive times, ways to cut costs EVEN MORE based on your budget, trail lengths, MORE insider tips, the skinny on places to stay, grocery, shower and laundry stops and more – grab your Badlands Itinerary Here!
Or, I can make a complete and personalized itinerary for any destination designed JUST FOR YOU!