Badlands National Park is a National Park in South Dakota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 8 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Badlands
We matched 8 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Badlands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (6)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointRock Formations (1)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Badlands the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 8:06 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:39 PM | 241° | 9h 18m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:20 PM | 253° | 10h 31m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:56 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:33 PM | 285° | 13h 26m |
| May | 5:26 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:09 PM | 298° | 14h 43m |
| June | 5:08 AM | 5:52 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:34 PM | 304° | 15h 26m |
| July | 5:23 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:30 PM | 301° | 15h 08m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:55 PM | 291° | 14h 00m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:02 PM | 275° | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:29 PM | 6:08 PM | 259° | 11h 03m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:28 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:26 PM | 245° | 9h 41m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 8:04 AM | 3:27 PM | 4:14 PM | 238° | 8h 57m |
Computed for the park's reference point (43.6858, -102.4829); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Badlands, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:42 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.7 | 14° |
| April | 2:38 AM – 4:18 AM | 1.7 | 17° |
| May | 12:42 AM – 3:12 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| June | 10:57 PM – 2:37 AM | 3.7 | 17° |
| July | 10:44 PM – 1:24 AM | 2.7 | 17° |
| August | 9:47 PM – 11:17 PM | 1.5 | 16° |
| September | 8:40 PM – 9:20 PM | 0.7 | 14° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
The Badlands weather is variable and unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116° F to -40° F. Summers are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms. Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands with sudden fury. Winters are typically cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (66%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Badlands National Park is located 75 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota. Physical Addresses for GPS* Park Headquarters: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750. Northeast Entrance (I-90, Exit 131): 21020 SD Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750. Pinnacles Entrance (I-90, Exit 110): 24240 Hwy 240, Wall, SD 57790. Interior Entrance: 20640 SD Hwy 377, Interior, SD 57750.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Compass and GPS
- Food
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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