{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreih7gxxqenbvdez6q7obtccarydtughfkpmqzap64vajymsniphipi",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:xoczgo53ahhoei6pror2b43g/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwxprdd4yox"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreidzh4dsglpaowzn7jw2duzfahwn2omdtkzn47c6kozpvpbyd3n2p4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/webp",
    "size": 122218
  },
  "description": "No crowds, frozen landscapes, and golden sunrises. Here is why visiting Badlands National Park in the winter might be better than the summer.",
  "path": "/badlands-national-park-in-winter/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-16T03:52:40.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:xoczgo53ahhoei6pror2b43g/site.standard.publication/3mmwwrtzqnc7k",
  "tags": [
    "Badlands National Park",
    "Dog-Friendly",
    "Road Trips",
    "South Dakota",
    "United States",
    "Midwest"
  ],
  "textContent": "When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. Some of our road trip stops are planned out weeks in advance. Others are simply places that make sense to visit because we are already driving right by them. Badlands National Park was kind of in the middle. It was a stop that made sense on our drive, but also one that we didn’t look much into before visiting. In January 2021, we were on our first real cross-country road trip as a couple. It was at the peak of the pandemic, and we were going stir-crazy in our apartment. What better way to get over cabin fever than to drive across the country from our home in Alabama all the way up to Glacier National Park in Montana (with a few National Park stops in between). On the drive up, we stopped off at Gateway Arch National Park before heading further north to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (check out hotels near the Badlands). We got a couple of hours of sleep and woke up at 2am to start the approximately 4 hour drive west along I-90W to the Badlands. Driving through the Badlands after sunrise We like driving at night since there are fewer cars on the road, less traffic, and more semis to keep us company. Whenever one of us gets tired or needs a break, we switch drivers so the other can get some sleep. After enough long drives, you eventually get used to sleeping in the passenger seat (though it’s not a sound, restful sleep). We pulled into Badlands National Park a little after 6am on January 3rd. We couldn’t see much except for silhouettes in the distance as we turned onto the Badlands Loop Road. The sky was a deep navy, and the sun had not fully risen yet. We hadn’t looked into the park before pulling in, and we really didn’t know what to expect. Watching the Sunrise in Badlands National Park As we were driving along SD-240, the stars were fairly bright above us but were starting to fade as the sun rose. We weren’t sure where we were going, so we pulled off along the road, stepped out of the car, and took a couple of astrophotography pictures using our Pixel phones. The detail in the buttes starting to show in the sunlight It was slightly below freezing. I was comfortable in a winter jacket while Minerva was layered up with gloves, boots, a hat, and hand warmers. Our two dogs had their sweaters on. As we walked along the side of the road, it was completely quiet, with no wind and no other cars driving by. Just the sound of frozen ground crunching under our boots. Watching the sunrise with no one here but us At first, all we could really see were the outlines of the spiked mounds. As the sun slowly came up, the striated details started to show. The sunlight hit the tips first, turning them gold while the lower sections were in shadow. There was only a light snow dusting across the plains, with a little snow on and around the formations themselves. As more and more of the mounds became visible, the more bizarre and interesting it all became. We had spent plenty of time in the national park closest to us, the Great Smoky Mountains before, but this landscape felt completely different from anything we were used to. We stood there for a while, just looking, walking around, and taking pictures. But as permanent as they look, they’re actually disappearing. The Badlands erode at a rate of about one inch per year. To put that in perspective, the granite in the Black Hills erodes about one inch every 10,000 years. Scientists think the entire park will be gone in half a million years Visiting Badlands with Dogs: Rules and Tips We love traveling with our dogs, Toby and Lily. But what made this trip even more special was that we had adopted Lily only two months earlier. She went from a home where she was in a crate for over 11 hours a day to being with us and traveling across the country on an adventure. During this visit to the Badlands, we were not as familiar with national park rules as we should have been. We later learned that dogs are allowed in developed areas like roads and parking areas, but they are not allowed on hiking trails and must be leashed. We did not prepare as well as we should have for that part of the visit, and that is something we have learned from over time. National Parks deserve that level of preparation and respect. From a winter perspective, the ground conditions near the roadside areas were manageable for our dogs. There was not enough snow or ice to cause issues with their paws, and their sweaters kept them comfortable in the cold. Any areas where we saw wildlife, we kept our distance and our dogs were kept in the car. If you are visiting Badlands National Park with dogs, definitely take the time to understand where they can and cannot go, as well as other regulations. Badlands National Park Weather & Road Conditions in January Visiting Badlands in the winter was an amazing experience. During our trip, the roads were open, we did not encounter any closures or ice, and the Badlands Loop Road was easy to drive, even in early January. Buffalo and prairie dogs were also there near the Pinnacles Entrance Station, though they were less active than they were during our second visit to the Badlands in the summer of 2024. Both were visible from the road, and whenever wildlife was nearby, our pups stayed in the car and we kept a respectful distance by not leaving the road. Winter vs. Summer Comparison We visited the Badlands for a second time in the summer of 2024 while driving home from the Olympic Peninsula. Summer was busier, but not overwhelmingly so. We were still able to stop at overlooks like Conata Basin, Yellow Mounds, Pinnacles, and Ancient Hunters without worrying about crowds. Wildlife was noticeably more active in the summer, especially the prairie dogs. I found myself appreciating our winter visit more. Arriving before sunrise, seeing the formations first as silhouettes, and watching the light slowly reveal the landscape without knowing what to expect made that January morning memorable. There was something about the quiet and the empty roads that made it feel personal. Our winter visit highlighted the stillness. It felt like we were exploring at our own pace without worrying about traffic or busy overlooks. Is Badlands National Park Worth Visiting in Winter? Yes, absolutely! But it helps to think about what kind of experience you want. If you are interested in seeing the stars, arrive before sunrise. The sky was still dark enough when we entered the park to see a scattering of stars overhead. If you are visiting for photography, earlier or later in the day will give you more dramatic light. Once the sun climbs higher, the light becomes flatter and the features are less defined. If you are passing through on a longer road trip, even spending an hour or two in the park is worthwhile. Badlands was not our final destination on that January drive. Glacier National Park was still ahead of us. But that early morning stop set the tone for the rest of the trip. Road trips give you the chance to see places you might otherwise fly right past. In our case, visiting Badlands National Park in January reminded us that some of the most memorable stops happen when you slow down long enough to pull over and step out into the cold. From here, we continued the drive west towards Mount Rushmore.",
  "title": "Badlands National Park in Winter: A Guide to Visiting in January",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-13T00:57:16.000Z"
}