Is Badlands Open Year-Round? Weather, Hours, and Closures

Exploring Badlands National Park is an unforgettable experience, but it’s important to plan your trip with the weather in mind. You may be wondering if Badlands is open year-round, what the weather will be like, or what will be open while you’re there.

Badlands is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. You can enter and exit the park as you please, even if the entrance station isn’t open and collecting fees.

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My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. South Dakota is absolutely one of my favorite states to visit, and I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to Badlands National Park!

I’ve got a lot of information for you about visiting Badlands year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation here. Let’s get started!

Is Badlands National Park Open Year-Round?

Badlands is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. This means that if you want to see the sunrise from a viewpoint, you will be able to get in, and if you want to go stargazing in the middle of the night, you’ll be able to get out.

But it doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times.

For example:

• The visitor centers have limited hours or seasonal closures
• The entrance stations are not always staffed
• Campsites may close due to flooding or inaccessibility
• The roads through the park may close due to snow or ice
• Trails may be closed due to construction or unsafe conditions

Closures of this nature are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.

Operating Hours for Badlands National Park

Badlands Visitor Center Hours

There are two main visitor centers in Badlands: the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and the White River Visitor Center.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the main visitor center in the park. You’ll pass by this visitor center as you drive the Badlands Loop Road, which takes you to all the main viewpoints and hikes in the park. Here you’ll find a visitor center, gift shop, lodge, restaurant, and campground.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is open year-round, with longer hours in the summer and shorter hours in November-March. It’s completely closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Most ranger programs are offered through this visitor center, so stop in when you get to the park for updated info on which programs are offered that day.

The White River Visitor Center is found in the park’s lesser visited South Unit, located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It is open during the summer only. This is a great stop if you’re hoping to immerse yourself in the cultural significance of the area and learn more about the native Lakota tribe.

Badlands Entrance Station Hours

Badlands National Park has three official entrance stations: the Northeast Entrance, the Pinnacles Entrance, and the Interior Entrance. These entrance stations may or may not be staffed when you arrive, but you can enter and exit the park 24/7. Entrances stay open year-round, weather permitting.

Park entrance fees are required in Badlands National Park.

Common Closures in Badlands National Park

Badlands Lodging Closures

Badlands has two in-park campgrounds — Sage Creek and Cedar Pass. To choose which campground will best serve your needs, read all about camping in Badlands. Both campgrounds are open year-round but are subject to closures or limited availability during inclement weather or road closures.

The Cedar Pass Lodge is the only hotel in the park, and it is open seasonally. The lodge closes during the winter months (approximately from the middle of October through most of April). The Cedar Pass Restaurant, a sit-down restaurant at the lodge, is closed when the lodge is closed.

Common Road Closures in Badlands

Unlike many other national parks, Badlands National Park doesn’t have any scheduled seasonal road closures. The park works hard to keep the roads open year-round!

However, all roads are still liable to close during inclement weather or unsafe conditions, so check the road conditions before heading out for the day. You’ll want to pay careful attention to the Sage Creek Rim Road (located just west of the Pinnacles Entrance) because this road is dirt and is more prone to closures.

Common Trail Closures in Badlands

All hiking trails in Badlands National Park are open year-round, weather permitting!

Occasionally a trail will close for construction or unsafe conditions, so check here for current updates in the park just to be sure you can access the trails you’re hoping to hike.

What is the Weather Like in Badlands National Park?

Even though Badlands is open year-round, not all months are created equal! Weather in the park changes drastically from season to season, with hot, dry summers and freezing winters. Storms have been known to set in with little to no warning during any season as well.

Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and precipitation levels (in inches) at Badlands National Park:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High (F)	34	40	48	62	72	83	92	91	81	68	50	39
Avg Low (F)	11	16	24	36	46	56	62	61	51	39	26	17
Avg Precipitation (“)	0.3	0.5	0.9	1.8	2.8	3.1	1.9	1.5	1.2	0.9	0.4	0.3

Winter in Badlands

Cold temperatures and snow are common in Badlands, so make sure you’re prepared if you’re planning to visit during the winter. The park’s trails and roads often close during winter storms, which can happen without warning throughout the whole season.

Although winter does come with its own set of challenges, it can be a rewarding time to visit the park because crowd levels are low and hotels are cheaper.

Spring in Badlands

Even though Badlands is usually a dry place, expect rain and warmer temperatures during the spring. You’ll want to be prepared for sudden storms too, which can cause closures around the park due to excessive rain or other dangerous conditions.

Most formal park activities (like ranger programs) don’t start up until May or so, making spring the perfect time to visit if you want to explore the park while the crowds are still small.

Summer in Badlands

Summer is the high season in the park, which means that everything is open and operating on extended hours. It’s extremely crowded and busy at this time, and temperatures are usually in the high 80s or 90s.

If you’re visiting in the summer, bring water and prepare for hot, dry days and lots of crowds!

Autumn in Badlands

Autumn in Badlands isn’t necessarily quiet and crowd-free, but it’s a nice time to be in the park. A visit during September or October often brings cooler temperatures, bluebird skies, and lovely hiking weather. You never know when winter conditions might show up, but you should be able to explore the whole park!

So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit Badlands?

There are a lot of variables to think about when planning your trip to the park. Click here to see my specific recommendations for the best times to visit Badlands.

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