Badlands National Park: How Bad?
At first we did not think the Badlands in South Dakota were too “bad”, but after getting on the suggested loop, we were a little more impressed. We originally entered Badlands National Park on Sage Creek Rim Road instead of State Highway 240.
Sage Creek Rim Road is a gravel road that goes along the northern most part of the badlands national park. Even though we weren’t on the most scenic loop stretch, we did see some scenic views and plenty of bison.
We actually had to stop and let some bison cross the road. This is their world, we were just visiting. Not that there was much traffic at all where we were, but the bison just graze on the side of the road like there are no cars around.
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Sage Creek Ranch Road also borders Prairie Dog Town where there are hundreds of thousands of prairie dogs living. We saw lots of these little guys scurrying around, and sometimes waddling. Some of them were so fat.
We incorporated a stop in Wall, SD at Wall Drug Store and actually started the suggested scenic Loop from there. This is not just a one building pharmacy. It’s a destination. It’s comprised of many shops and several places to eat or have a drink. It’s definitely a tourist attraction, but a good place for souvenirs, restrooms and having lunch.
We felt like we had had our fill of burgers and such on this trip so we were looking for something a little more healthy at Wall Drug Store. We found wraps and salads on the menu at, maybe an unlikely place, Badlands Saloon & Grille. It’s located across the street from Wall Drug Café. We thoroughly enjoyed our ‘healthy lunch’. I did have to try the fries though, since they boasted that they were home of the #2 best fries in the state. Pretty good!
After lunch we got on 240 and the Badlands State Scenic Byway before looping back on I90 to Rapid City. The Scenic Byway lived up to its name and we actually were able to experience how bad the Badlands really are. We drove through colorful banded hills and beside deep beautiful gorges.
There are scenic overlooks all along this stretch, southwest from Wall, through Badlands National Park. We didn’t get out and do any hiking but we did enjoy driving through to admire the incredible rock formations and wildlife.
Badlands National Park is worth a trip through if you are in the area. And Black Hills is an amazing area that we highly recommend in South Dakota!! Wall Drug Store is worth a stop too. We enjoyed visiting both.
Some of our favorite spots in the Black Hills were Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park including Needles Highway. We had a fabulous time with Rapid City as our home base and exploring this whole area everyday. If you have been to Western South Dakota, what is your favorite road trip destination?
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About Us
We are Bud and Debbie Lilly, two travel lovers from Texas. Spending an enormous amount of time researching each location to find the best places to eat, sites to see and things to do is actually something I love to do. Not for everyone, I know. But, we are blogging our experiences to let you know what you can expect in each location and so you don’t have to redo the research. Let us know if you go on any of the same trips and if you find places that impress you. We would love to hear from you!
We feel so enriched by the people we meet and the places we see. Thank you for supporting our blog!
Such amazing landscapes! Truly beautiful. And I love seeing the bison.
Yes the scenic part of the route was beautiful. I love to just roll up on a herd of bison!
So scenic & beautiful!
The colors were so pretty!
That looks like a beautiful place to visit!
Yes, you’ll have to check it out sometime, Melissa!
The Badlands sound so much fun! We need to visit!! Thank you for sharing your adventure!
Glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!
Badlands National Park looks so scenic and beautiful. I love all the wildlife that you were able to run into; and so openly.
They certainly don’t seem to be afraid of cars. It really is pretty.
The Badlands have been on our list for a while. Looks like an awesome adventure!
Hopefully you can visit soon! Yes, it was an adventure!
What a great visit. Love the hitching post!
Isn’t it charming?!
I went to the Wall Drug Store as a teenager with my family on a road trip. I remember it was such a build up to get there. There were so many signs on the road announcing it for miles and miles! By the time we got there we just had to check it out!
Yes, they don’t want you to miss it! Haha
Looks like it was a great adventure! Lots of fun!
Yes, fun day!
Such a cool trip! Looks like fun!
Yes, good trip!!
I love all that wild life! The Badlands are awesome!
Yes, me too!
Sounds like a great trip and that salad looks delicious!
My hubby said it was! I had a wrap that was good. We were ready for some healthy food, even if at a saloon! haha
Looks like fun!
Yes! 🙂
Love all the colorful layers of the Badlands. We were there a couple years ago and Needles Highway was an amazing drive too. You definitely saw more wildlife than we did!
Oh yes we loved needles highway!!
We were there last month. It is one of the most spectacular places we’ve been.
We probably passed each other at Wall Drug! haha South Dakota is beautiful!
I love seeing all of the animals! Looks like a fun trip!
Yes a fun trip with our friends! Laughing trying to catch pics of those little prairie dogs. Haha
Excellent photos! We traveled the Bad Lands just last month and absolutely loved the scenery and the wildlife. Did you by chance count the number of signs to Wall Drug? 😆
Thanks Georgette!! We may have been there at the same time 🙂 Haha no I didn’t count. So funny!
We visited that area several years ago and loved it. I look forward to returning sometime in the near future. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Christina!
It’s not every day you get to ride a Jackalope. Yeeha!
Haha Sandi!! Very true!
I loved seeing all the wildlife when I was there! The bison, prairie dogs, big horned sheep, etc Magnificent!
We kept looking for sheep, but didn’t see any!
What an amazing trip you had! I love the Badlands and your pictures are fantastic!!
Thank you Holly!!
The little prairie dog is adorable! I’d love to see one in real life. I’ve only ever seen them in zoos. The Badlands are surprisingly colorful. Some parts remind me of the Painted Desert in Arizona.
Haha yes so cute!
True! We loved the Painted Desert!
We loved the Badlands! It’s one of my favorite places in South Dakota to visit. I think the prairie dogs there were my favorite.
Yes, they are so cute! And pudgy! Haha
What a great spot!
Not too bad, huh?! (-;
Badlands looks so cool! We went to Rushmore a few years ago but didn’t have time to get out to the Badlands. We’ll have to make sure to see it next time!
Yes, next time! Loved Mount Rushmore!!
Wonderful travelogue and Insta-worthy photos here. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Maggie!!
We went and visited the bad lands before COVID fully hit, it was such a beautiful place and HUGE! Looks like you two had so much fun.
I’m glad you got to go!!
What great views!! Id love to go take a trip to the Badlands!
There are some very pretty views! We enjoyed the wildlife too!
Great info for visiting Badlands!
Thanks for checking out our blog! Glad you enjoyed it!