Camping at Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park
Looking for more fun things to do in Badlands National Park?
Head two miles up the road to the incredible Notch Trail. While you’re there, check out the short but stunning Window and Door Trails as well.
LOCATION
- Cedar Pass Campground is located in Badlands National Park just beyond the Interior Entrance Station. The campground is 2.5 miles north of Highway 44 and half a mile from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
- Badlands National Park charges a $30 entrance fee per car, which is valid for seven days. Pay at the park entrance station.
- If you have an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass), this covers the entrance fee for Badlands National Park. You can purchase a pass online, or from a park entrance station. Some individuals, including veterans, fourth graders, and seniors, may qualify for a free or reduced price pass.
ABOUT THE SITES
- Cedar Pass Campground offers 96 campsites.
- The campground is open from roughly April through October. Limited campsites are available during the off-season.
- Four group campsites can accommodate up to 10 people each.
- Campsites cost $23 per night for non-electric sites. This cost includes two adults and all children age 15 and under. There is an extra $4 nightly fee for each additional campers age 16 and up.
- Campsites with electrical hook-ups cost $38 per night. As with the non-electrical sites, this rate covers two adults, but there is an additional $4 nightly fee for additional campers age 16 and over.
- The campground is situated in the open prairie, so there is no tall vegetation between sites. There is also no shade aside from the sheltered picnic tables at each site.
- There is a good amount of space between most campsites, which helps provide some privacy in the open environment. The sites with the most space are naturally those on the outside edge of the campground.
- We stayed at campsite #30. It was on the outside of the campground loop and a short walk from the restroom en route to the amphitheater.
- Pets on leash are allowed at Cedar Pass Campground. Please note they are not allowed on hiking trails within Badlands National Park.
FUN STUFF
- Climb the rocks. Badlands National Park has an open hike policy, which means you can wander wherever you like (just please use common sense and know your limits). The rocks near the campground amphitheater are an excellent place to explore.
- Attend a ranger talk at the amphitheater. We attended an excellent presentation covering the history, geology, flora, and fauna of Badlands National Park. The next night featured a talk on snakes, much to the delight of the kids.
- Gaze at the stars. On clear night, the view of the heavens is incredible. In summer, a short astronomy presentation often follows the main presentation at the amphitheater, and volunteers set up telescopes for public viewing.
- Take in the sunset. It’s the perfect way to end your day in the Badlands.
- Enjoy a meal at Cedar Pass Lodge. The lodge is located within walking distance of the campground, and includes a restaurant if you want a break from camp cooking.
- Check out the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Located half a mile from the campground, this is the place to learn about the geology and history of the Badlands, buy souvenirs, and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. Don’t miss the fossil preparation lab, where you can talk personally with the scientists working on fossils found in the park.
CURRENT INFO & RESERVATIONS
- Visit the Cedar Pass Campground website for general information and reservations.
- Advance reservations are a must for peak season travel. The campground was fully booked when we visited in June.
- Cedar Pass Campground is privately run and doesn’t state when reservations will open for the coming year far in advance. Check back throughout the winter months so you can book once they become available.
WE STAYED HERE
- June, 2022, 2 nights
AMENITIES
- Flush toilets and running water
- Drinkable water, available from faucets located around the campground
- Sheltered picnic tables at all sites
- Hot showers — coin-op, with dollar exchange machines located outside the restrooms to obtain quarters
- Electrical hookups available at some sites
- NO water or sewage hookups available
- NO campfires or open flames allowed
NEARBY & NOTABLE
- Badlands National Park is the reason people stay at Cedar Pass Campground. After a stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, spend a day touring the Badlands. Don’t miss hiking the adventurous Notch Trail and the short but sweet Window and Door Trails. From there, take a scenic drive west to discover awe-inspiring vistas and visit the prairie dogs in Roberts Prairie Dog Town. If you’re lucky, you may spot buffalo roaming in the far reaches of the park.
- Wall Drug is the must-see kitschy roadside attraction just north of Badlands National Park. Yes, it’s cheesy and crowded, but it’s also kind of amazing. For us, it was a fun stop on our way to Cedar Pass Campground. Plus, their maple donuts are really yummy! Buy some for breakfast the next morning.
THE VERDICT
Location, location, location! That’s what it’s all about at Cedar Pass Campground. While there are some dispersed camping spots and a more remote, rustic campground within Badlands National Park, Cedar Pass is the place to stay if you want easy access to the park in a serviced campground. Here you get running water, flush toilets, and coin-operated hot showers, with gorgeous views of the Badlands and surrounding prairie. Plus, you’re only a couple of miles for some of the most popular hikes in the park, including the Notch Trail and the Door and Window Trails.
The downsides are a lack of privacy and high exposure to the elements, particularly wind. The picnic table shelter doesn’t provide much wind protection, and believe me, the winds here can be powerful. We experienced strong gusts the evening we arrived, but fortunately they died down later that evening.
As for privacy, I found the open nature of the campground wasn’t a big issue, particularly if you book a campsite on the outside of the loop. We were spaced a reasonable distance from our neighbors, and the kids had plenty of open space to play. Just beyond the campground, the kids discovered the nearby rock formations were a fantastic place to climb. When it comes to amenities, I was impressed with the cleanliness of the restrooms, including the showers. Although basic, they were much appreciated.
Overall, I highly recommend staying at Cedar Pass Campground if your camping trip includes Badlands National Park. Check out one of the excellent ranger talks, let the kids play and rock climb, and take in the sunset from your campsite to experience the best of the Badlands.
Our Experience
It was thrilling to arrive in Badlands National Park for the first time. We wound our way through the park from the NE entrance, awestruck by the jagged canyons and spires that pierced through the surrounding prairies. Just beyond these otherworldly rock sculptures lay Cedar Pass Campground, surrounded by an endless blue sky and rolling grasslands.
We were eager to set up camp and make dinner before the evening presentation at the amphitheater. After pulling into our campsite, I stepped outside only to be hit by a blast of wind. The picnic table shelter provided little protection, and we gave up on the camp chairs after a few strong gusts knocked them over. Fortunately, the breeze died down later in the evening, allowing us to sit back an enjoy the view in peace.
As the sun sank toward the horizon, Cedar Pass Campground was bathed in its golden glow. The setting sun also meant it was almost time for the evening presentation at the campground amphitheater. From our campsite, it was a mere five-minute walk to the open air theater, where we were treated to a late evening presentation introducing us to the wonders of Badlands National Park. We hung around afterwards for a brief astronomy talk, and the chance to spy a few distant constellations through the telescopes.
The next morning we were eager to get out and explore more of the park. We bought donuts from Wall Drug the previous afternoon, and they provided the perfect easy breakfast to start our day. First up, we checked out the exhibits at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, and chatted with some of the paleontologists at work in the fossil preparation lab. The rest of the day was spent exploring the Badlands, from the Notch Trail to Roberts Prairie Dog Town, with many additional stops along the way.
Back at camp, we were treated to another gorgeous evening followed by another fun presentation at the amphitheater. The kids were thrilled by tonight’s topic: snakes. Their father is no fan of legless reptiles, but even he was happy to learn some new facts, and was particularly impressed to hear how rare rattlesnake bites in Badlands National Park actually are.
The next morning it was time to pack up and go. But first: showers! I knew our next campground, Bismarck Lake, had only pit toilets and no showers, so we had to take advantage of hot running water while we had the chance. I ran a few five-dollar bills through the change machine outside the restroom to gather enough quarters for the family. Ahhh! Camp showers may not rank high on most people’s top ten lists, but when you’ve gone several days without, any hot shower feels like heaven.
The sun shone brightly as we pulled out of Cedar Pass Campground, just as it had the day we arrived. We drove out through Interior and followed Highway 44 west toward Rapid City, enjoying our final views of the Badlands as we drove down the bumpy road. Our time in South Dakota was off to great start.
