Badlands Trip Suggestions

[kpk]

I know this has been discussed before, but I can't find the threads amongst the badlands pack threads.

Thinking of taking my 6 year old daughter to the badlands towards the end of August for maybe 4 or 5 days. Trying to decide between the badlands and the north shore of MN (which she loves and there's plenty to do). 3.5 hrs to northern MN vs 8 to the badlands so the drive is a factor but not a deal breaker.

Anyone have great suggestions for the lesser known "must see or do" type stuff? I was thinking of doing hotel/vrbo/airbnb route but could camp as well if that opens up some great opportunities.

 

[bozeman]

Wall Drug......trust me, you will know where it is once you get within a 100 mile range.

 

[rookieforever33]

The area around the SD badlands has a lot to offer. Needles highway, wildlfe loop, spearfish canyon, as well as the standard Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. Custer park has a lot of trails that are well marked and graded for different experience levels. Its amazing how many people dont see much of the great stuff there.
PS skip wall drug and go through the badlands the other way. Way better use of time

 

[slatebuilder]

What @rookieforever33 said.

That is a cool area. Our kids loved it
Depending on your timing, accommodations might be really high due to Sturgis. We rented a cabin in Custer state park during one of our stays. It was at the same time as the Sturgis rally, so there were bikes everywhere. There are all kinds of breakfasts and chicken bbq’s and stuff happening at fire companies and sr centers and so on during that time though. We actually enjoyed aspects of bike rally.

 

[ND_Hooligan]

The ND badlands are so much more scenic than the SD badlands. In my humble opinion of course. The area in, and around, the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is truly amazing and I don't think the SD badlands even come close. I will admit though, that there is a whole lot more to see closer to the SD badlands than there is to the ND badlands, but the badlands themselves, the north wins hands down.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yeah, skip Wall Drug and the corn maze. Much better stuff to see out to the west. I would strongly suggest not camping as it is hotter than hell that time of year. And then there are the snakes...

 

[wesfromky]

Badlands will be hot for sure. You might drive the loop, take the road to sage creek, and then the back way into Rapid City and on to the black hills. It will be much cooler temps, and Custer state park, the needles, sylvan lake, etc are great spots to visit.

 

[Backyard]

There is much more to do on the north shore between Duluth and Grand Portage that will keep a six year old interested than the Badlands area has. Save it for when she’s a bit older.
And Bike Week is the first full week of Aug each year, in case you do decide to head out there.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KurtR]

Maybe it’s because I have been to the hills a lot I would pick the north shore. No way in hell I would be any where out there during the rally now back in my 20’s it was a blast.

 

[Eleven]

Wall Drug can be fun with the kids.

The badlands as a whole is one of my favorites places in the world. Custer state park is fantastic. Needles highway is really amzazing.

 

[def90]

Kids love Wall Drug. If you are in the Badlands you are essentially in the Black Hills. Tons of stuff to do. Custer Park, Deadwood, gold mine tours, the big cave tour (can't remember the name), Mt Rushmore. Do it up, be a tourist. I grew up in Minnesota and have been to the north shore many times, I loved the trip my family took to the Badlands/black hills when I was a teen back in the 80's. Ignore the naysayers

 

[Rock63]

If she likes seeing animals then the Badlands and the Black Hills have plenty. MN not so much.

 

[Fatcamp]

The heat during that time frame can be brutal. Like, zero fun brutal.

Go to the dang lake.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The area around the SD badlands has a lot to offer. Needles highway, wildlfe loop, spearfish canyon, as well as the standard Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. Custer park has a lot of trails that are well marked and graded for different experience levels. Its amazing how many people dont see much of the great stuff there.
PS skip wall drug and go through the badlands the other way. Way better use of time

These and a couple other suggestions:
-the missle man solo visitor center, they had a virtual tour playing to show a command module and a little ways away is a silo to check out.

-jewel cave tour. It’s a bit further away west of Custer, it’s better than wind cave (we’ve done both).

 

[mtmiller]

Thinking of taking my 6 year old daughter to the badlands towards the end of August for maybe 4 or 5 days. Trying to decide between the badlands and the north shore of MN (which she loves and there's plenty to do). 3.5 hrs to northern MN vs 8 to the badlands so the drive is a factor but not a deal breaker.

Well since you are shooting for the end of August, the Rally is a non issue.

I spent a couple years working in BADL and still visit a couple times a year. Fun wildlife, though the bighorns have taken a hit. Still lots of hikes and other critters to entertain you and your daughter. I think 4 or 5 days might be a bit much, but with the Hills just an hour away, lots of other opportunities there as well.

I don't know much about the ND Badlands, but that will change in about 3 weeks.

Here are a couple shots from May 2025.

 

[Rock63]

Good pics!

 

[BLJ]

Would September/October be better weather?
Or earlier in the spring?

 

[Fatcamp]

For my money spring is where it's at. Flowers, green grass.

I love the place, but it's brutal.

 

[Yooper]

We did a trip through the Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Needles, etc....a number of years ago when our kids were 7 and 10. They liked Wall Drug and the countless prairie dogs we saw in the Badlands. They didn't have any real connection with Mt Rushmore probably just due to age. The rest was just meh to them. Too young to appreciate I suppose. I bet they would look at it differently now being in their teens.

If your daughter loves the lake take her to the lake! No better time to visit the north shore in my opinion.

 

[slatebuilder]

Well since you are shooting for the end of August, the Rally is a non issue.

I spent a couple years working in BADL and still visit a couple times a year. Fun wildlife, though the bighorns have taken a hit. Still lots of hikes and other critters to entertain you and your daughter. I think 4 or 5 days might be a bit much, but with the Hills just an hour away, lots of other opportunities there as well.

I don't know much about the ND Badlands, but that will change in about 3 weeks.

Here are a couple shots from May 2025.

When did the bighorns take the hit? We were there in 2021 and saw a few.