Badlands National Park Travel Guide
Badlands National Park travel guide: interactive map, live weather, best time to visit, things to do and nearby places.
Active alerts for Badlands National Park
Wind Advisory issued October 23 at 12:15PM MDT until October 24 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Issued by NWS Rapid City SD
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 55°F (13°C) in Badlands National Park with partly cloudy. It feels like 51°F. Today runs from 54°F to 83°F. Chance of precipitation is 4%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.2/10 - 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 much warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 83°F is 19.6°F above the 63°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 6 PM to 9 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. hiking is the strongest bet in Badlands National Park today at 9.6/10. 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.
Map of Badlands National Park
Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.
Coordinates: 43°51′19.4″N 102°20′22.9″W (43.8554, -102.3397)
Weather in Badlands National Park right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 4:10 PM, Oct 23 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 60° / 42°
Overcast · 4% rain · wind 27 mph
🌦️ 45° / 38°
Light drizzle · 78% rain · wind 13 mph
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 | 4:10 PM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Continental |
Things to do in Badlands National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Badlands National Park.
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 to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- Layers - the daily swing is 82°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Airports near Badlands National Park
Closest airports with IATA codes and distances.
| Airport | Code | Distance | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver International Airport | DEN | 301 mi | Denver |
Explore Badlands National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Travel Guide 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 55°F (13°C) with partly cloudy. Humidity is 62% 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 4:10 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. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| 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 23, 2026 at 4:10 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
