{"id":1708,"date":"2010-06-15T01:59:39","date_gmt":"2010-06-15T07:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.sixsuitcasetravel.com\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2025-02-01T16:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T23:08:13","slug":"big-family-trip-to-the-badlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sixsuitcasetravel.com\/blog\/big-family-trip-to-the-badlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Badlands National Park Guide with Kids Plus 10 Tips for Visiting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The beautiful White River Valley Overlook <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Badlands National Park was established as a National Monument in 1939. In 1978 it was redesignated as Badlands National Park. Approximately one million visitors come each year to visit the 244,000-acre park, including its eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires. The park is also the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eroded buttes are a product of deposition and erosion. Every time it rains more sediment is washed from the buttes. They say that the buttes erode about an inch every year. This erosion is washed down to the prairie or carried away by the stream.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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Having spent time exploring Badlands National Park, we share in this guide tips and insights to help you plan your own adventure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entrances to Badlands National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Located 55 miles from Rapid City, the park has four separate entrances: Northeast Entrance, Interior Entrance, Pinnacle Entrance, and the White River Entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entrance Fees to Badlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A seven-day pass to the park is $30. We highly recommend buying an America the Beautiful<\/a> pass for $80. The pass is good for one calendar year and is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Having a pass will allow you to pop in for a few hours in the evening and again the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a 4th grader, check out the FREE Annual 4th Grade pass which is good for the duration of the school year through the following summer (September-August).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members, qualify for a free annual pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Badlands National Park as part of a road trip loop from Rapid City<\/a>, which includes stops at Wall Drug and Minuteman Missle National Historic Site.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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Time to Cover Badlands National Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We spent about 3.5 hours in the park, the average visit is around 5 hours. You can fill a full day’s schedule and possibly add a second day by adding additional drives, ranger talks, star-gazing, or hikes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Badlands Loop Road, SD 240<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
1-Day Badlands National Park Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n