When we were coming from Hot Springs in South Dakota, we somehow came upon a road that was not…read morepaved and had many potholes in. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere when we got to the Badlands. I cannot tell you how happy I was to see the sign of the bad lands, just because my husband and I were both confused as to where we were headed. Even in July, it felt like there was nobody coming or going. We were scared something was going to happen to our car and we were going to be in the middle of nowhere. With no cell reception nonetheless. The biggest tip I can tell you is to make sure you have a tank full of gas and snacks and things in your vehicle. The badlands themselves are beautiful. We were able to see some bison, even though it was not that close. It was an incredibly hot when we visited in July, so definitely go very early if you plan on hiking. We were not able to get our entire party out from having breakfast early, and we missed our day of hiking because of it. Even just driving around the badlands is beautiful... but be sure to have water if you plan on hiking. I did not expect it to be as hot as it was.

We visited Badlands National Park during our cross-country road trip with our 4- and 5-year-old…read moreboys, and it was one of the most breathtaking landscapes we saw. The scenery is absolutely stunning, with dramatic rock formations that were created from layers of ancient sediment deposited when this region was covered by water millions of years ago. The visitor center is excellent and well worth visiting before exploring the park. The exhibits are very informative, and we especially enjoyed the fossil preparation lab, where you can learn about the incredible fossils that continue to be discovered in the Badlands. Since much of the park is open for off-trail exploration, it's important to stop at the visitor center first to learn the rules regarding fossil collecting and what to do if you happen to find one. The views throughout the park are simply remarkable, and there are countless opportunities to stop, hike, and take in the unique landscape. Whether you're interested in geology, paleontology, wildlife, or just spectacular scenery, Badlands National Park is an unforgettable destination and one of the highlights of our trip.

I really wanted to have a good experience at this park; I'm passing through for work and wanted to…read morefind a nice green space to walk my dog. When I arrived I was the only person there. The little park seemed idyllic, halcyon, a slice of hometown Americana. I leashed up my dog, grabbed some poop bags because I'm a good dog owner, and began to traverse the park. After a few minutes I found myself enjoying the sunshine with my dog and began to look for a trash can for the newly acquired baggie of doggie doo. That's when I noticed ...THEM. As I had passed through the grass, a tiny, unnoticed signal was passed and they lifted from the grass in a wave, stalking my movements only briefly before descending on my position in a full assault from all sides. They attacked again and again, latching onto my flesh and ripping into me with their mouth parts. I was familiar with their type, having traveled far and wide through the jungles and marshes and swamps, through the humid caves and bogs they preferred. I was not ready, and their surprise attack was critically effective. I had to fall back, I had to get out of their immediately and in a cowardly moment of panic I dropped the leash, turned, and ran, poop bag flailing in arcs through the air as I swung it haphazardly around me to fend off my attackers. I doused myself in repelly as they continued to swarm around me, landing on any spot on my clothes that I missed. They bounced against me as their little face holes were frustrated by my defensive coating. Encouraged and feeling protected I walked back out into the park, thinking "I can get through this minor inconvenience" and was immediately assailed in the nostrils and ears by a second wave of reinforcements. These were a new type of monster, unafraid of DEET, undeterred by their brethren's painful demise at my hands. They laughed in the face of their own end. They embraced it. This was my Vietnam. In the end I found myself in my car, nursing my wounds and executing the few trespassers in my vehicle with extreme prejudice. They'd defeated me, my dog was laughing at me (she was immune to their attacks) and I knew that others may find themselves in my shoes. I write this review now in my lowest of lows, my dignity forfeit, to warn the next traveler in my position to bring bug spray. Maybe a beekeeper suit, before daring to enter this forsaken place. 3 stars because nobody knew they were building this park on the portal to hell

Great little green space we had a picnic lunch at after trying unsuccessfully to have lunch at Wall…read moreDrug. Lots of room to walk our dogs. There is a swimming pool and even a space that looked like a combination basketball court/skateboard area. Our visit here made up for the disappointment that was Wall Drug. If I lived in Wall, I'd be here all the time!

You can walk short trails further out into the badlands for an even better view. Just beware! Don't…read moreget near the edge...the ground can be slippery and the cliffs are fragile and can give way under your feet. It's the perfect stop-off to look at the different layers in the rocks, including the red-colored fossil soils. The White River Valley Overlook is located on the south side of the road and there is ample parking. There is even parking for RVs and vehicles pulling campers. There are no restrooms or other amenities at this overlook. The overlook is wheelchair accessible. The spectacular views from the White River Valley Overlook make it a worthy stop for travelers of the Badlands Loop Road.

Great place, free parking, free entrance, nice displays. You can get a guided tour to go see one of…read morethe missile control facilities that you have to drive to or one of the missile silos, you also would have to drive there. It's at the eastern exit for the entrance to Badlands national Park. I remember when this visitor center was in a trailer house next to the gas station there. This is a beautiful facility. Scary history, but necessary to remember it.

+ Nice free war history museum (and show). + Good amount of…read moreparking, - but no shade in that windy desert heat. + Restrooms and water bottle refill station. + Nice, helpful staff. - Crowded inside. . Popular place for schoolchildren's field trips. - While I was using the men's restroom, the boys turned off the light. I didn't like that.

We stopped here to view America's largest Berlin Wall exhibit and of course see the many beautiful…read moresculptures we had heard about. It is a lovely park with lots of greenspace and beautiful foliage but there were many unhoused persons and some seemed to be living/sleeping next to the statues so we weren't able to spend to much time enjoying some of them or get to close and we didn't want to bother anyone. The ones we did see up close were magnificent! We enjoyed walking through the park on the paved trails and perhaps it was just because we were from outside the area but we had difficulty finding anywhere close to park so we also had a nice walk to and from the park as well. The highlight for my husband was getting to spin the 9,000 lb piece of granite. The engineering makes it possible but it's still pretty tough to get that 4 ton stone moving. This park is worth a stop just for that.

This park is a memorial to those that died in the Rapid Creek floods of 1972. An amphitheater,…read moreplayground, lake & war monuments are displayed here as well. There are sections of the Berlin Wall because this was the front line for the Cold War. Missile & launch control facilities are peppered through the grasslands & are run by the National Park Service.

+ Peaceful nothingness for miles. Gosh the plains out here so plain…read more + Except for the cows in the distance. Wonder how close I coulda gotten to them. - But still, felt like whole lotta nothing out there. . But I suppose it's a decent break in between your visits to the more exciting hot spots like Mt Rushmore and Custer SP. . Prob gotta dig deeper to find the few animals you see in the other reviews' photos, but I was omw to too many flagship destinations to slow down here, unfortunately.

Being from the east coast, I was aware of national parks, national monuments, national forests, and…read moreeven national seashores. But, I wasn't aware of national grasslands until traveling through South Dakota. We stumbled upon Buffalo Gap National Grasslands when we visited the nearby Badlands National Park. (Sept, 2024). Buffalo Gap, with almost 600 thousand acres in southwestern South Dakota, is the second largest protected national grassland in the United Stated. (It's second to the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota, with over one million acres). Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, its highlights are the colors of the prairie and chalk-colored geological formations, as well as old homesteads and the chance to see wildlife. While there are few developed recreational sites, there are plenty of opportunities to get out into nature here -- with nature viewing, mountain biking, hiking, camping (see below), horseback riding, and hunting. There is also a free Visitors Center in Wall, South Dakota with information about all of the national grasslands, and the importance of the prairie ecosystem. With respect to camping, we already had reservations at the campground in Badlands National Park, but while traveling along the Badlands loop road (Hwy 240), we noticed RVs camping on the top of a cliff in the National Grassland. When we checked online reviews, it was reported that the free dispersed camping offered "jaw dropping views" but with a lot of wind. We hope to return someday to report firsthand!

Entry will the state park cost $25 per vehicle and lasts a week. I wanted to go another time again…read moreto hike, but unfortunately we were not able to, especially with the rain. Just driving through the State Park is so beautiful, though. We were lucky enough to see a couple of bison, even if we were not able to see herds of them. I was so excited that we were even able to see a couple walking around. I was a little disappointed that we were not able to see any mountain goats or anything else, but I can understand that we just can't see them from everywhere. Going to the visitor center was also a plus. They have a great movie that you can watch, that shows history and they had lots of people that were asking questions to the rangers. This state park feels as though it's more like a national park, and it's definitely worth visiting.

Our visit to South Dakota was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Custer park was…read moreone of our top priorities to visit. Man was it worth it! Every turn along the scenic drives revealed something new and breathtaking--towering mountains, rolling hills, endless grassy plains, crystal-clear lakes and streams, beautiful log cabins, and wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. We drove arms reach from bison, and deer. We got out of our car to pet and feed burros, and marveled over other animals right alongside the roadway. The prairie dogs were adorable and funny too. It was an incredible reminder of how special this park truly is. Especially considering I love animals, history, and the artistry of nature. One of the highlights was driving through the famous narrow rock tunnels. The engineering is amazing, and the views framed through the tunnels are simply unforgettable. We also stopped at several cliffside overlooks where the panoramic views stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing there, looking out over the landscape, gave us a true appreciation for the beauty and scale of the Black Hills. Whether you're looking for incredible photography, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Custer State Park delivers on every level. It's one of those places that makes you slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate God's incredible creation. If you're visiting South Dakota, Custer State Park isn't just worth seeing--it's an experience you'll remember for a lifetime. We can't wait to return.

We were just driving by and noticed how inviting this park looked even in the midst of all the…read moreconstruction.. We were just drawn to it. It offers nice view and an awe inspiring jealousy of the guy on the hillside. I wanted to knock on their door just to see if they would let me on the deck. It is well done and spacious and isn't crowded at all, even if though were were there around bike week.

Yellow Mounds section stands out from some of the overlooks and formations around it because of the…read moreshape and coloring. At first glance, I didn't think anything special, but after getting out at the overlook and walking around a little to fully capture the views and how they fit in with the surrounding landscape, I came away appreciating them more than it seemed.

As you approach the YellowMound Overlook (the next overlook on our list), you will drive through…read morevibrantly colored yellow hills. There is a turnout here where you can safely park your car and get out to enjoy the view. The yellow color comes from fossil soils, called paleosols, that have weathered and changed color when exposed to the sun.

I can't rate a park anything less than 5 stars; this is a small national park and easy to spend…read morehalf a day here and add in to a trip. This was a last minute addition so we missed the opportunity to do a cave tour. Next time! The visitor center is surprisingly large and really neat even if not visiting the cave. You can walk to the original entrance of the cave from the visitor center which is neat to see and "cool" to feel cold the air blowing out of the opening. We saw soooo many bison! And a coyote hunting prairie dogs! This national park doesn't charge an entrance fee to walk around or drive thru, so if you are in the area and maybe missed wildlife at the state park, it's worth a drive through to try and catch a view of some animals! Make sure your kiddos get junior ranger badges at the visitor center!

There's a whole hidden world under the prairie. The Garden of Eden Tour took us deep underground…read morethrough narrow passageways and into rooms full of rare boxwork formations and delicate honeycomb patterns that make this cave so special. Down there, everything feels slower. It's quiet, cool, and feels almost untouched. Then you step back outside and it's a complete contrast. Open skies, rolling hills, and bison grazing in the distance like something straight out of a movie. Two totally different worlds in one park.