Badlands National Park
National park · Pennington County
South Dakota
Highlights
Vast geologic formations, prairie grasslands, and abundant wildlife like bison
Vast geologic formations, prairie grasslands, and abundant wildlife like bison
"The visitor center is noted as an interactive stop where families can engage with paleontologists preparing fossils for display, blending science education with the dramatic landscape." - Jill Krasny Jill Krasny Jill Krasny is a journalist based in New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A unique park in South Dakota known for its striking geological formations, rich fossil beds, and mixed-grass prairie." - Alison Fox Alison Fox Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slope
"An otherworldly park east of the Black Hills known for its dramatic erosional landscapes and striking geologic formations; it sits roughly an hour from the mountain range and offers a contrasting, starkly beautiful terrain often paired with regional roadside stops." - Matt Kirouac
"Badlands National Park has a section co-managed by Indigenous people, reflecting ongoing efforts in collaboration and co-management."
"Between the steep buttes, crystal-lined caves, granite spires, prairies, and ponderosa pine forests, speculating the most beautiful South Dakota place is hopeless. But the fossil-packed landscape of Badlands National Park must come close. Here, meadows meet whimsically eroded canyons and vibrant, layered hills. Drive Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) and the perimeter route around the South Unit. Bonus points if you time your visit to the south-facing Pinnacles Overlook for sunset." - Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the
