Big Badlands Overlook — Attraction in Interior

We had made the trip 30 years ago with our son, but wanted to stop again and retrace our steps. The new overlook was very picturesque and easy to walk out there. The badlands are very interesting and should be a must stop when visiting South Dakota!!

If you are a hiker there are numerous spots where you can climb on the rock formations and go up to the tops of them, They have a gift shop, and restaurant in the middle of the park, as well as buffalo roaming free as you drive around.

We purchased a National Parks Lifetime Pass when we entered the park, for $80 one time fee, then we can go to any National Park without having to pay...

Words cannot do justice to the uniqueness of the Badlands. This day was overcast so the colors were muted and not as vibrant as the photos you will see on Google. The strata were so varied and colorful with wildlife abounding. We saw thousands of prairie dogs, hundreds of buffalo, dozens of big horn sheep and as many more whitetail deer. There were bobwhite quail singing at nearly every stop and lookout. The buffalo and sheep were close enough to touch. This is a spectacular place and should be on your bucket list if only for one long day to visit. You can see the entire park in one day, so if you are just passing through, it is...

This was a cool place to look at but it got docked stars because it's $20 just to drive threw it and look at it, that's it there is nothing else to do besides that. And 2nd we came from Rapid City and there was no indication that we would have to pay $20 just to drive threw there on any maps or signs. We only chose that way because the map said senic route. By the time we got to the gate were you have to pay at your already an hour away from any alternate route. The Badlands themselves get 5* but the set up they have there gets 2 because it's up to get people to fork up 20 bucks or add over 2 hours to...