The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) cuts through eroded rock formations, buttes and pinnacles striped in yellow, tan and red bands of sediment that expose millions of years of geologic layers. It is one of the few places in the region where you can see bison, pronghorn and prairie dogs from the car while driving between overlooks. Most of the park is experienced from pullouts and short boardwalk trails rather than long hikes, so it suits travellers with limited time or mobility as well as dedicated hikers.
| Distance | 75 miles (120 km) east of Rapid City; 250 miles (400 km) west of Sioux Falls |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 hour from Rapid City; 90 minutes from Sioux Falls |
| Getting there | Car — I-90 East from Rapid City to Exit 131 |
| Address | Ben Reifel Visitor Center, 25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD 57750 |
How to get there
- Car rental from Rapid City: Budget 605-394-4301, Hertz 605-393-0160
Location
Ben Reifel Visitor Center, 25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD 57750
43.8554, -102.3397 View on map
Highlights
- Door Trail - a boardwalk leading into a break in the wall formations, walkable in under 30 minutes
- Notch Trail - a short but exposed hike with a log ladder and a canyon-edge view at the end
- Yellow Mounds Overlook - the clearest example of the park's banded yellow and red sediment
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center - exhibits on the park's fossil beds and geology, and the main source of ranger advice
- Prairie dog towns along Sage Creek Rim Road - reliably active colonies visible right from the roadside