Aug 1, 2025
Exploring Badlands National Park with kids was the highlight of our South Dakota road trip! Our visit at the park wowed us from the moment we arrived! From towering rock formations, to deep canyons, and rolling prairies as far as the eye could see, we were in awe as we rounded every turn. It was filled with stunning views, short hikes, and plenty of photo ops, and it turned out to be an unforgettable adventure for our entire family! If your kids love to climb, the Badlands needs to be added to your vacation list!
Family Stop Before the Park: Feeding Prairie Dogs at The Prairie Dog Ranch
Before you enter the Badlands , you will pass a roadside stop called The Prairie Dog Ranch. If you are traveling with kids, love animals, or want to see some wild prairie dogs up close, this is the stop for you! It is free to go in and see the prairie dogs. You can go into the gift shop and pay $1 for a bag of peanuts and take them outside and feed them to the prairie dogs. Some of them will come and take the food from your hands, others will come grab it off the ground near you. Either way, you see prairie dogs popping out of their holes all over the place. Our kids absolutely loved it and the animal lover in me did too!
After a fun pit-stop with the prairie dogs, we drove down the road and entered The Badlands!
Top Family-Friendly Activities in Badlands National Park
Window and Door Trails
These short & easy hikes are perfect for littler ones but still very scenic!
Fossil Exhibit Trail
is a quick, 0.25-mile boardwalk loop where kids can see fossil replicas and learn about the ancient creatures that once roamed the area.
Wildlife sightings
Keep your eyes open for bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs & mule deer!
Scenic Stops
The stunning scenic loop drive with frequent pull-offs and so many opportunities to free explore and climb – our kids loved this!
More Adventure Ideas for Families Visiting the Badlands
If your kids are up for a bit more adventure, the Notch Trail involves a log ladder climb and cliffside path. It’s best for older kids or those comfortable with heights. But the views at the end are incredible!
There is a visitor center around midway through the park that had restrooms, a fossil preparation lab where you can see them excavating real fossils, museum exhibits, park rangers, gift shop and more.
They do offer a program where kids can become Junior Rangers. You can get a booklet and begin your journey at the Visitor Center or get it sent to you ahead of time. Read more about the details here:
https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/junior-ranger-booklet-badl.htm
Essential Tips for Visiting Badlands National Park With Kids
• It takes around 45 mins to 1 hour to drive through the Badlands without stopping at scenic lookouts or hiking spots. So if you plan to stop (which you should), plan accordingly.
• Bring lots of water! You can fill up at the Visitors Center after you hit up a few trails.
• Wear hats and sunscreen because there’s not much shade.
• Bring binoculars and snacks!
• Restrooms are few and far between, plan ahead!
• Plan ahead which trails you want to do before arriving so you know where to stop along the way.
• It costs $30/car to enter the Badlands and your pass is good for 7 days. We ended up driving back through a few days later because it was so beautiful we had to see it again!
Is Badlands National Park Worth Visiting With Young Kids?
Is it worth taking young kids to visit the Badlands? Absolutely!
Our youngest, who was 3 at the time we visited, gets tired when we go on hikes back home, yet, did not complain once at the Badlands. He was so into exploring all the different areas and climbing up rocks, and following his siblings, he had a blast! There was a variety of climbs for all ages. There were flatter parts for the younger kids, and harder climbs for the older ones. What we loved was there was something for everyone all in one spot! The Badlands are truly an amazing site to see that is hard to put into words or pictures. We would definitely plan a trip to go back. You could get a different experience each time you visit, depending on the ages of your kids. It is 100% worth the trip to go see!
🚙 Planning a South Dakota road trip? Consider a quick pit-stop at Wall Drug!