Badlands National Park Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Badlands National Park: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
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° | 0,9 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 80° | 57° | 1,5 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).
Recent extremes in Badlands National Park
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
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 | 22 in |
| Mount Rushmore | 56 mi | 46°F | 37°F cooler | 22 in |
| Wind Cave National Park | 59 mi | 49°F | 34°F cooler | 18 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 |
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.
What this means for Badlands National Park
Today is warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 93°F is 7.4°F above the 86°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 86°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- Avoid long hikes after mid-morning; start at dawn or leave it for a cooler day.
- 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 71°F (22°C) in Badlands National Park with clear. It feels like 69°F. Today runs from 63°F to 93°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.7/10 - excellent - go now.
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 warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 93°F is 7.4°F above the 86°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. stargazing is the strongest bet in Badlands National Park today at 10/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
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 | 6:18 AM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Continental |
Weather map for Badlands National Park
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Badlands National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate 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 71°F (22°C) with clear. Humidity is 45% and wind is 5 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 6:18 AM.
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 August 21, 2026 at 6:18 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
