What else can I say that hasn’t already been said ? I’ll say it anyway, this place is fricking amazing!!! We’ve been to the Badlands a handful of times but haven’t experienced like this . We were traveling home from Montana to Minnesota & were looking for some dispersed camping along the way & hoped for a last hurrah before heading home. We liked everything we read here about this particular site & decided to seek it out. It’s very easy to find off of 1-90 in either direction but it’s a few miles off the road so there is no traffic noise at all. It’s very easy to find but we didn’t follow the directions given here on the Dyrt. As someone else here mentioned, it’s right outside the Pinnacle entry gate to Badlands National Park. Look for the directions to the Pinnacle entry & it will lead you right to your destination. You will see a few tv/cell ? towers & that’s where the roads leading in will be. It’s a loop & there are 2 ways in . The 1st road in is less rough but be aware that there are few steep grades & a few dips on gravel so be careful if you are towing a bigger rig. The other way in isn’t as steep but has many pot holes in the gravel road. We have a travel trailer & made it in just fine but we chatted up a few fellow campers that had some issues.
Once your on the main / only road going thru the grounds, you’ll see sites along the rim of the Badlands that have areas cleared for you to set up camp, no matter what your equipment. If you cruise along the road you’re sure to find something to suit you. Camping on the rim offers pretty level spots , nice sized sites & AMAZING views !! Some even have little paths carved out leading a ways down into the rocks . Perfect for a closer look! You can also camp in a big field area across from the rim as well . We arrived on a Thursday morning to a handful of other campers but it filled up fast. I’m suspecting it was due to Labor Day. Even though it filled up , there was still plenty of space to be had & plenty of space between everyone. While there we came across a few antelope that just casually strolled about. One even sought refuge from the brutal heat under somebody’s 5th wheel!
Speaking of the heat , it was about 100 degrees. While I normally hate to use a generator in a very quiet setting , we absolutely had to to run the AC or we would’ve melted. Especially for our dogs sake! If you do have to use a generator, don’t worry , many people were . The area still kept it’s quiet integrity.
No there are not hook ups or anything like that but none of that mattered with how breathtaking it was . I’d rather be here any day than packed like sardines at some RV resort.
If you still aren’t sure - just do it! You will not regret it! Waking up to a sunrise over the Badlands will make you forget your woes.
