Click here for a full screen slideshow of the Badlands National Park

Heading across South Dakota, you have to stop at a couple of places, including the Badlands National Park and Wall Drug. We decided to stay in the Badlands for a few days, and we’ve been richly rewarded with a variety of wildlife and amazing vista’s offered in this very unusual setting.

Places to stay and things to do:

Badlands / White River KOA Campground: We joined the KOA community here and it has been well worth the membership fee in discounts and perks from KOA nation wide. This park was clean and quiet, has a nice well stocked store for those last minute needs, and offers full hook ups. We were there in August, so mosquito’s were troublesome, but we have a Coleman screen tent that can be put over a picnic table. But you are literally a couple of miles from an amazing National Park, so spend your days hiking and sightseeing. They also offer a nice free breakfast every morning.

Other options include the Cedar Pass National Park campground near the South Entrance and the park headquarters, gift shop, and restaurant. Benefits here include nightly presentations from the Park Rangers (we went to the night time demonstration on the stars and planets). Advance reservations are really recommended – this campground fills up fast.

Sage Creek is on the North Western side of the park. It is far more remote and has no water or services, so it’s for the more adventurous. I’m sure you would be rewarded with extremely dark nights to watch the stars by.

There is some boondocking available, but your on your own if you boondock.

Badlands National Park: Of course, the main reason you’re here is the Badlands with lots to do

• Hiking trails – see the park maps. They have nice, well marked trails to suit everyone from families with small children, to the avid cross country hiker looking for some adventure. Fantastic vistas and lots of wild life. Warnings about snakes are everywhere, but we never actually saw one. Recommend good solid footwear and stay alert. The family hikes with smaller children are mostly on elevated board walks.
• Wild life – Buffalo are scattered all over the park. We also saw lots of Prairie Dogs and even some really cute baby burrowing owls. Look through the slide show for highlights.
• Panoramic scenes – take your camera and go to the overlooks at various times of the day to get sunrise and sunset shots. You can see forever out here in the northern desert.

Attractions in the surrounding area

• Wall Drug – lots of shops, tourist trap, and fun. Things for the whole family. Cafeteria style food, but it was good fare, and lots to see.
• Minuteman Silo – please take the family to see the museum and silo. Kids need to know how close we came on several occasions to blowing up this world we live on. Very interesting presentations and you can even see down into one of the silos.

Restaurants / Food / Breweries

Not much in the area. Surrounding communities are very small, and most have a small café with decent burgers and basic American food. Wall Drug has a neat cafeteria, but the art work and antiques are probably the real attraction.