This incredible National Park located in South Dakota is often rushed by tourists just driving the ‘Loop Road’ rather than also exploring the amazing hikes and views it has to offer. The Badlands National Park views were created as a consequence of rock sediment layering over thousands of years. We recently visited the park and soon realized that if you really want to see everything the park has to offer, one needs at least two full days. Also, as college students living on a budget, we did not want to spend a lot of money, so we decided to plan accordingly. Below you can find a list of how we managed to make a weekend trip to the Badlands while spending under $65 including lodging, food, gas, and park fees.
Lodging
When staying in the Badlands there are a few locations allowed for camping. The first one, Cedar Pass Campground, is a reserved campground that costs around $30 per night and includes amenities such as bathrooms. This option is also in a great location if you don’t want to stay in a very secluded area as it is close to the Cedar Pass Lodge and Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The second option, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, is the Sage Creek Campground which is located west of the loop road near the Badlands’ Wilderness Area. Here there is no fee for camping, and it is available on a first come first served basis. We stayed here our first night at the park, and there were not too many people. However, don’t expect to see any of the spectacular views of the typical Badlands landscape and rock formations from here, as it is located in a grassland area. The views of the sunrise are pretty beautiful, though, and wildlife, such as the bison that typically share the campground with you, make this a unique and secluded location. The last option is staying in the Wilderness Area of the Badlands. We must note that it is recommended to talk to a park ranger both for advice and to make sure you are safe. Also, your camp spot must be at least 0.5 miles from any road or trail and cannot be visible from the road or trail. We decided to stay in the Wilderness Area for our second night in the park; we drove to the Conata Picnic Area and walked from there. The views of the Badlands are pretty amazing in this area, and you can expect plenty of wildlife noises, a perfect view of stars and moon, and a nice breeze for a perfect night in the wilderness!
Total Spent on Lodging: $0
Food and Drinks
Visiting the Badlands can be a little challenging in terms of where to eat – the only restaurant within the park is located in the Cedar Pass Lodge. Convenience (as well as cost-effectiveness) was essential for us, so we decided to buy hot dogs, burgers, sandwich meat and bread, eggs, and plenty of water for our 3-day trip. In order to cook the food, we brought a travel-size, propane grill, as no open fires are allowed in the park. It is recommended to cook in designated areas such as in campgrounds or picnic areas.
Total Spent on Food and Drinks: $35
Gas
As you may expect, there is a lot of driving inside the park. The loop road is around 29 miles long and we drove it a few times to get back and forth between campgrounds, visitor center, various pull out locations, and other attractions.
Total Spent on Gas: Approximately $10
Park Fees and Hiking
The only fee in the park is the entrance fee where $20 gets you a 7-day pass. When visiting, we recommend you take advantage of the incredible views and trails the park has to offer. We did the 4-mile long Medicine Root Loop that is located just a few miles into the park from the east entrance. After walking the trail, we continued driving through the loop road with frequent stops and the numerous overlooks and points of interest. Some of our favorites were the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Pinnacles Overlook, Yellow Mounds Overlook, and White River Valley Overlook, among others.
Total Spent on Park Fees: $20
So there you have it! Visiting the Badlands National Park should not break the bank if you don’t want to. We definitely wanted to minimize our costs, but there are definitively some amenities you could consider adding to your trip, such as dining and lodging at the Cedar Pass Lodge. The Badlands is one of the most inexpensive parks to spend time in, and we wanted to share our experience here with you!
Please let us know if you enjoyed this post and about some of the ways you saved money when visiting National Parks. Leave us a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and to follow us on social media @duquetravelers for some great pictures and videos of our adventures.
