Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
Best time to visit Badlands National Park: May, June, July, August and September. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Badlands National Park
Go in May, June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Badlands National Park month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 15° | 0,5 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 41° | 20° | 0,5 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 52° | 29° | 0,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 59° | 37° | 2,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 69° | 48° | 2,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 81° | 58° | 1,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 89° | 66° | 1,8 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 86° | 63° | 1,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 79° | 57° | 1,2 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 63° | 42° | 1,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 49° | 30° | 0,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 42° | 23° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Badlands National Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Badlands National Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer State Park | 54 mi | 47°F | 36°F cooler | 23 in |
| Mount Rushmore | 56 mi | 46°F | 37°F cooler | 23 in |
| Wind Cave National Park | 59 mi | 49°F | 34°F cooler | 20 in |
| North Dakota | 218 mi | 45°F | 38°F cooler | 23 in |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 224 mi | 46°F | 37°F cooler | 16 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Layers - the daily swing is 68°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Avoid exposed ridgelines, small boats and rooftop viewpoints while gusts stay above 50 mph.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Badlands National Park is a national park in South Dakota. Badlands National Park is a US national park known for eroded buttes and fossil beds.
Right now it is 45°F (7°C) in Badlands National Park with partly cloudy. It feels like 36°F. Today runs from 39°F to 60°F. Chance of precipitation is 4%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.1/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Badlands National Park is May, June, July, August and September. The climate is continental. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 89°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 15°F.
The closest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN), about 301 mi away. Nearby highlights include Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 60°F is 3.4°F below the 63°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. running is the strongest bet in Badlands National Park today at 9.5/10. Gusts to 50 mph will push high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Badlands National Park right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 7:29 PM, Oct 24 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 60° / 39°
Overcast · 4% rain · wind 30 mph
🌧️ 44° / 38°
Heavy drizzle · 27% rain · wind 12 mph
Things to do in Badlands National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Badlands National Park.
Quick facts about Badlands National Park
| Type | National park |
|---|---|
| State | South Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 43°51′19.4″N 102°20′22.9″W (43.8554, -102.3397) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Known for | eroded buttes and fossil beds |
| Local time | 7:29 PM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Continental |
Explore Badlands National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Badlands National Park?
Badlands National Park is a national park in South Dakota. Its coordinates are 43.8554, -102.3397. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Badlands National Park right now?
It is currently 45°F (7°C) with partly cloudy. Humidity is 26% and wind is 6 mph.
When is the best time to visit Badlands National Park?
May, June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Badlands National Park, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Badlands National Park in?
Badlands National Park observes America/Denver (UTC-06:00). The local time is 7:29 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Badlands National Park?
The closest airports are Denver International Airport (DEN), 301 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Badlands National Park?
Popular options include Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 24, 2026 at 7:29 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
