Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit Badlands National Park are April, May and October — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. July is the crowd peak (245,621 monthly visits); December is quietest at 4% of peak.

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Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at Badlands, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Monthly crowd curve

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

Badlands month by month

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station WASTA, SD US (22 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit Badlands each year

Badlands National Park had 1,139,361 recreation visits in 2025, 4% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2021, with 1,224,226. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 1,102,207 visits a year, which makes it the 25th most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for Badlands in April

Computed from April's weather normals — Badlands's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 33°F
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Common questions

Badlands month by month: notes from the park service

• January: Badlands stays open 24 hours a day all winter, and the park service collects entrance fees year-round. In January, though, roads through the park can be closed in winter or extreme weather, and the park warns that they can be slick and icy.
• March: March is a cold, dry month at Badlands, with afternoons reaching about 48°F and nights in the mid-20s on the park's long-run averages, and less than an inch of precipitation. Sudden, dramatic weather changes are common here, the park warns, so dress in layers.
• April: Planning an April trip to Badlands? The park service says roads through the park may close during winter or extreme weather events, so check conditions first.
• May: May warms Badlands to afternoons in the low 70s°F, and it is one of the wetter months, with close to 3 inches of rain on average. If showers are forecast, the park strongly recommends a rain jacket and waterproof or water-resistant boots for hiking.
• June: June is the wettest month at Badlands, the park says, averaging just over 3 inches of rain, much of it in violent summer thunderstorms that can bring hail and occasionally tornadoes. Typical afternoons reach the low 80s°F.
• July: July is the hottest month at Badlands, with average afternoons near 92°F, and the park's recorded extremes run from 116°F to -40°F. Carry adequate water, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for any hike, and check the forecast before setting out, since afternoon storms can build fast.
• August: August stays hot at Badlands, averaging highs around 91°F, but rainfall drops to about 1.5 inches, down from June, the wettest month. Hailstorms can still hit, so keep an eye on the sky.
• September: September eases Badlands' heat, with average highs near 81°F and nights in the low 50s, and about an inch of rain. The park says weather here is variable and unpredictable all year, so pack layers for cool mornings.
• October: October at Badlands National Park: the park is open 24 hours a day, every day, and entrance fees are collected year-round. As autumn turns to winter, the park service warns that roads through the Badlands can be closed in winter or in extreme weather, and that winter roads can be slick and icy, so check road conditions on your route before setting out.
• November: November at Badlands means winter driving can begin. The park service says roads through the park may close in winter or during extreme weather, and that winter roads can be slick and icy, so check road conditions for your route before leaving.
• December: December is one of the two driest months at Badlands, along with January, but it is cold: average highs near 39°F and lows around 17°F. Winters bring 12 to 24 inches of snow in total, and the park says roads through the Badlands may close in winter or in extreme weather, and can be slick and icy.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.

Dive into a month

Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Badlands ranks against all 63 parks in April, May and October.

Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks