National Park · SD

Badlands

Late spring & Sep; dark-sky park

Dark-sky park

Best seasonMay–Oct

Dark skyCertified

Entrance$30

Campgrounds1

Fly intoRAP

When to go · season and historical weather

Sweet spotPeak May–Sep. Go in Apr, Oct for similar weather.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Bar height shows the season; shaded months are the window to go. Select a month for historical weather.

Weather data & source

2018–2023 averages, not a forecast. Wet days estimate days with at least 1 mm of rain or snow using a calibrated ERA5 threshold. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (AWS Open Data, CC BY 4.0). Sunny share of daylight does not describe nighttime visibility. Season bars and highlighted months are separate from these weather averages. ERA5 via Open-Meteo AWS Open Data

On the map

Map showing the location of Badlands

When to go

The Badlands weather is variable and unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116° F to -40° F. Summers are hot and dry with occasional violent thunderstorms. Hailstorms and occasional tornadoes can descend on the Badlands with sudden fury. Winters are typically cold with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall.

Know before you go

Entrance $301 campground · 1 reservableFly into RAP

Check current conditions with NPS →

Campgrounds

In and around Badlands, reservable sites first.

Cedar Pass CampgroundReservableBook on Recreation.gov →