There are some pretty amazing parts of the USA to explore, and Badlands National Park certainly doesn't disappoint! It's a pretty incredible experience to visit, and one that the whole family will enjoy!
The area is completely rugged, and has the WORLD's riches fossil beds which date back an incredible 37-28 MILLION years! How amazing is that! Across the whopping 244,000 acres the whole family can learn the evolutionary stories of creatures such as the rhino and the hose. The area itself is incredible, with pinnacles, spires and buttes which have all been sharply eroded.
Did you know that the area was once roamed by those very scary looking creatures - the saber-toothed cat? Can you imagine what life would be like if they still existed today!
It's not just the extinct animals that still call the Badlands National Park home. Today, you can still encounter a range of wildlife, including the bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, ferrets and those iconic bison! You certainly will want your camera for that!
There are a number of things that you can fill your day with at the national park. Why not drive the Badlands Hwy 240 loop road which gives you an incredible tour of the area that will show off it's impressive landscapes! There is the ben Reifel Visitor Center where you can check out a range of interactive exhibits that focus on the prairie ecology, the cultural history as well as palaeontology.
Kids will love assembling a virtual skeleton on a touch screen, and even touch fossilized animal casts!
If kids love the fossils, the Palaeontology Lab is a great trip for them where they can see the palaeontologists at work as they explain about the scientific discoveries being made!
An amazing place for amazing families - like you!
nterstate 90 (I-90) is located directly north of the park and provides access to the Badlands Loop Road. For those traveling west on I-90, take Exit 131 (Interior) and follow the signs directing vehicles south approximately three miles to the Northeast Entrance gate. For those traveling east on I-90, take Exit 110 at Wall, South Dakota. Follow signs directing vehicles south approximately seven miles to the Pinnacles Entrance of the park.
State Highway 44 provides an alternate, scenic access to the park and intersects Highway 377 in the town of Interior. Follow 377 two miles north to the Interior Entrance gate.
$7 individual. $15 per vehicle (valid 7 days)
Same as adult
2022
The park service really look after the area so help them out and pick up after yourself!
Why not bring a picnic and enjoy a lunch with the family!
If you want to extend your stay, check out the campgrounds within the park! Nothing better than waking up to an incredible view of the sun over the rocks!
The visitor center has a bookstore where you can get a range of posters, videos, and books to continue your education on the area!
They LOVE having students and teachers with them, with a whole range of material for topics like bison, fossils, and geology. Something for every grade!
Make sure you have bottled water with you to keep hydrated.
The visitor is accessible, with parking and restrooms too. The campsites are also fully accessible!
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