2 Days Badlands National Park Itinerary: For First Time Visitors

Are you wondering how to spend 2 days in Badlands National Park? Then you are in the right spot.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is one of the coolest places in the US, so you can consider yourself quite lucky.

Planning what to do there as first-time visitors might be a challenge, since the park has so much to offer.

I spent 2 full days there as part of a larger National Park road trip, and it ended up as one of my favorites!

I hiked all of the Badlands’ best trails, sussed out each of the picnic areas, drove the scenic bypass loop, and strolled a little off the beaten path to remote Sage Creek campground.

To help you plan your adventure, I have created this ultimate guide for you!

Let’s get to it!

Day 1: The Badlands Loop and Notch Trail

Morning: Start at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center

Location: Near the park’s eastern entrance, just off Highway 240

Hours: Typically 8 AM – 5 PM (seasonal hours vary)

Best for: maps, trail updates, bathrooms, water, and education

I always recommend starting a US National Park itinerary with a stop at the visitor center. Here you can find rangers to help plan your day and give updates on the trails.

They also have fun 3D maps and exhibits that help you learn about the rock formations you’re about to see.

Make sure to use the bathrooms, fill up your water bottle at their refill stations, and browse their small gift shop before heading out for the day.

Tip: If you’re traveling with kids (or you are just young at heart), you can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet here.

Late Morning: Drive the Badlands Loop Road

This 39-mile loop following Highway 240 is one of the most scenic drives in the US.

The road itself winds through stunning rock formations, but my favorite part is the 7 overlooks that each offer a unique view of the park.

You’ll get different vantage points over the Badlands alien scenery on this loop, and it is great for taking some Instagram-worthy pictures.

Of course, you’ll also get to see its famous “Wall” rock formation.

Here is a bit of an overview of what to expect on the Badlands Loop Road.

1. Big Badlands Overlook

This overlook is closest to the eastern entrance, making it your first stop.

You’ll have a high vantage viewpoint of color-striped mounds of rock formations stretching into the far distance.

This place offers a great view over the Eastern side of the Wall.

Tip: This overlook is the best for sunrise because it faces east. The rising sun illuminates the colours in the rock. If you can handle an early wake-up call, head back here the next morning.

2. White River Valley Overlook

The next pull-off has views over one of the park’s largest eroded areas.

You can see the Castle formation nearby, and farther out in the distance, the White River Valley.

It shows a beautiful contrast between the rugged rocks and the grasslands in the distance.

3. Bigfoot Pass Overlook

Next, we will visit Bigfoot Pass Overlook. It offers amazing views over eroded prairie that lead to the canyon formations in the Wall.

This is one of the less impressive overlooks on the route, in my opinion, but still worth stopping at.

The spot is also meant to honour the indigenous group of the Lakota Sioux and their Chief Big Foot.

4. Panorama Point

The name of this viewpoint definitely speaks for itself.

This viewpoint offers a 360-degree perspective. You’ll see the Wall to the north and rolling prairies to the south and west.

On clear days, you can see the White River Valley for miles. It’s considered one of the best overlooks in the Badlands and is one of the few paved pull-outs.

5. Conata Basin Overlook

This is one of the best overlooks if you like seeing bright colors layered in the jagged rock formations.

You’ll see yellow and a pink-ish grey color streaking through the spires. The colors are especially bright at sunset, if you want to visit again.

6. Yellow Mounds Overlook

Yellow Mounds wins for the most vibrant colored formations in the badlands. I totally loved it.

The fossil soil creates the bright colours when combined with sun exposure. It is really a great place for photography.

7. Pinnacles Overlook

Arguably, the best viewpoint in the Badlands, Pinnacles Overlook, is one of the highest vantage points in the park.

There are several different overlooks and short trails to walk around this area.

You can use this final lookout as a picnic spot to eat packed lunches with a view.

Tip: Cell signal is spotty throughout the loop, so download maps offline before entering the park.

The Door Trail

Distance: 0.8 miles out and back

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 30 – 45 minutes (depending on how long you want to explore off-trail).

After hiking the Notch trail, I suggest also checking out the short Window and Door trails.

Door Trail is super simple but surprisingly fun. It follows a boardwalk that leads you to a ledge in the Badlands Wall.

From there, you can choose to walk beyond the official path to scramble around the formations.

This is one of the best ways to get great photos of yourself amongst the rock formations without anyone in the background.

The Window Trail

Distance: 0.25 miles

Difficulty: Very Easy

Time: 15 minutes

Another cute trail in the area is the Window Trail. You can totally do it after completing the other two hikes already.

This super short trail leads to a natural window in the rock wall overlooking the canyon. It’s a quick stop, but worth checking off.

Late Afternoon: Roberts Prairie Dog Town

Location: Along Sage Creek Rim Road, near the park’s northwest corner

In the late afternoon, we’ll take a short trip to the Northwest part of the Badlands to see prairie dogs.

This area has hundreds of little creatures, chirping and scurrying around between their burrows. It’s a fun (and slightly hilarious) wildlife stop. Keep an eye out for bison.

Driving Note: Sage Creek Rim Road is gravel but usually passable by most cars in good weather. Avoid if there is heavy rain.

Evening: Stay Overnight at Cedar Pass Lodge or Campground

For sleeping accommodation, I can recommend two places. It really depends on your style and the level of comfort you crave.

Cedar Pass Lodge & Campground

Near the visitors center, you can find the Cedar Pass Lodge.

Cedar Pass has air-conditioned cabins with front-porch views of the Wall. They also have different camp sites and an on-site restaurant.

It’s great for being right in the middle of the park.

Sage Creek Campground

If you want a little more adventure, you can also stay at the more remote Sage Creek Campground.

It is a free, first-come, first-served campsite off of Sage Creek Road.

You’ll have to take a gravel road to get there; there’s no cell service, and it feels like you’re far in the wilderness.

There are 22 campsites with picnic tables and a pit toilet available.

We were there in late July and had no problem getting a site late afternoon/early evening.

Nighttime: Stargazing in a Dark Sky Park

Just like the famous Bryce Canyon National Park and White Sands National Park, the Badlands is a designated International Dark Sky Park with incredibly low light pollution.

This is one of the best spots for stargazing in the US, so you definitely need to put that on your 2-day itinerary to the Badlands.

On clear nights, you can see the Milky Way and so many different star constellations. It is truly special.

Day 2: Hiking the Badlands’ Best Trails

Morning: Saddle Pass, Medicine Root, and Castle Trail Loop

Location: Start at Saddle Pass Trailhead

Distance: 4.8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 2.5 hours

After waking up in the Badlands, start by doing a combo of the Saddle Pass, Medicine Root, and Castle Trail routes.

This loop takes you through the most diverse variety of landscapes in the park: prairie grasslands, scrambles up jagged rock formations, and views from amongst the badlands.

The loop starts at the Saddle Pass Trail, which consists mostly of a steep hike/scramble up the rock formations.

It’s only 0.36 miles of the total hike, so really worth the effort for the views you’ll get at the top.

At the top of Saddle Pass, you’ll come to an intersection. Head straight to continue on the Medicine Root Trail. The next 2.2 miles are completely flat on a narrow trail through dry grasslands.

You’ll have views of rock formations in the distance.

Medicine Root trail is considered one of the less interesting hikes, but combined with the other two trails, it provides a really great variety in scenery.

The final portion of the Castle Trail leads back to Saddle Pass and walks you along a plateau. It looks down into the valley.

Picnic Lunch Conata Picnic Area

The one downside to the morning’s hike is that it is completely in the sun without shade. But our lovely lunch break will give some much-needed respite from the heat.

For lunch, I suggest heading to the only shaded picnic area in the park, which is at Conata.

Make sure to pack a picnic lunch to bring along with you, or grab something on your way there.

Afternoon: Fossil Exhibit Trail

Distance: 0.25 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 15 mins

The Fossil Exhibit trail is a short boardwalk with signs that explain the animals that once roamed the Badlands 33 million years ago.

It is pretty interesting, and a great place to learn about the history of the park.

You’ll see:

• Fossil replicas of saber-toothed cats, ancient rhinos, and three-toed horses

• Interactive signs

• Benches and shaded platforms for a quick rest

Late Afternoon: Cliff Shelf Nature Trail

Distance: 0.5-mile loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 15–25 minutes

Right near the visitor center, the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a short loop that leads through a Juniper forest and to a seasonal pond.

It’s a great place to spot wildlife like deer or bighorn sheep.

The loop follows a mix of boardwalk, stairs, and gravel path. It has a steady incline to a viewing platform where you’ll have views over the White River Valley and the rock formations of the Badlands.

Evening: Sheep Mountain Table Hike or Drive

Location: Sheep Mountain Road off Highway 27 (southwest of the park)

Distance: Up to 5 miles round-trip (or drive 4 miles of it if conditions are good).

This road to the Sheep Mountain Table Overlook is in a much quieter part of the park. It is an unpaved road that lasts about 4 miles.

Keep in mind that you can only do all of the drive if your vehicle has high clearance.

There is a pull-off on the road where you can park and then explore.

There are some amazing views, you’ll pass through narrow sections with rock formations rising on either side, hike along ridgelines, and have nature almost entirely to yourself.

Important Tips For Visiting the Badlands

🏜️ Bring more water than you think you’ll need. It gets hot, and there is almost no shade in the park.

🏜️ Start hikes early to beat the heat and crowds.

🏜️ Download offline maps. There are many spots in the park that don’t have cell service, especially off the main scenic loop. We had zero coverage at Sage Creek Campground, for example.

🏜️ Look out for wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, and rattlesnakes. Give the bison a ton of space.

🏜️ Don’t feed the prairie dogs. This is part of the Leave No Trace policies in the park.

🏜️ Pack picnic lunches. There is a restaurant at Cedar Pass Lodge, but I found it way nicer to pack a lunch and eat surrounded by the scenery both days. There are lots of picnic areas available.

🏜️ Make sure to buy the America the Beautiful Pass if you visit more parks on your trip.

Final Thoughts on 2 Days in Badlands

With a mix of dramatic hikes, scenic overlooks, and wildlife, 2 days in Badlands National Park is the perfect amount of time to explore its best features.

Badlands NP is one of the coolest places to see in South Dakota, aside from Mount Rushmore, of course. 

Make sure to come prepared for your hikes, bring plenty of water, and listen to the park ranger about trail conditions. 

Whether you stay overnight at backcountry camping with an RV or one of the cool campgrounds, like the Cedar Pass Campground, you’ll surely have an amazing time in the park. 

You’ll cover plenty of feet of elevation gain, explore the park on a dirt road, and see fossils, waterfalls, and other cool stuff on the trip. 

If you’re visiting on a longer road trip across National Parks in the US, you have to head south to check out the insane hikes in Zion National Park and explore nearby Antelope Canyon.