Visiting Badlands National Park
What did we think about this National Park in South Dakota?
One of the things we’re trying to do on our journey is see as many National Parks as we can. I had no idea until we started traveling just how many National Parks there are! Badlands National Park is our third so far, and it’s been fun to start growing our list.
One of the things I loved about this park is that there is a highway (240) that you can take from the south of I-90 in Wall, South Dakota, and it goes through a section of the park and then comes out further east, where you can go north just a little and connect right back up with I-90. (And vice versa if you’re traveling west.) It makes it super easy to drive through and see some incredible scenery!
The rock formations are amazing in this park.
You can see a variety of colors in the rocks as well. And of course, you can see for miles and miles when you’re up high looking over the valley. It’s just a beautiful area. We were hoping to see more wildlife in this park, but unfortunately, we didn’t. We did see some bison at the entrance, though.
Side note: Did you know many people think there are buffalo in the United States, but there actually aren’t. Buffaloes are found in Africa and Asia and look a little different. What we have in the US are bison.
If you’re traveling through southwest South Dakota, this is a great place to take a little scenic turnoff and leave the interstate for a bit. It doesn’t add much time to your trip if you drive straight through, but you can enjoy some fantastic views.
Another thing I recommend if you’re in this area is stopping in Wall. It’s a cute little town with a variety of fun stores and attractions. We had a good time getting out to walk around and explore. I wish the street were blocked off so you could actually get good pics of the street because it was so fun looking! They have very rustic-looking features - even cute hitching posts.
For me personally, this wouldn’t be a travel destination per se, but if you’re passing through the area, it’s definitely a beautiful park to check out, and when you add the fun stop in Wall, it makes for a fun adventure for the day!
Have you been to Badlands National Park? What did you think?