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Badlands National Park Tour

A Private Tour With My XO Adventures

Badlands National Park Tour Details

Imagine a landscape so surreal it feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet! 

That’s the captivating beauty of the park, and our exclusive tour is your ticket to a world of awe-inspiring wonders.

This is the adventure you’ve been waiting for, and here’s why it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

Explore the otherworldly landscapes, where rugged beauty meets dramatic vistas, leaving you awestruck at every turn. Exclusively your group, no mixing with strangers.

Embark on a scenic adventure along the iconic Badlands Loop Road, a winding path that leads to breathtaking views and unexpected surprises.

Discover the quirky charm of Wall Drug, an iconic roadside attraction filled with quirky shops, tasty treats, and photo opportunities you won’t want to miss.

If time allows, we’ll drive up Sheep Mountain Table for panoramic views that will leave you breathless and inspire your inner adventurer.

Traverse the enchanting Sage Creek Rim Road, where wildlife sightings and the rugged beauty will captivate your imagination.

  • Duration: 6-7 Hours (approx.)

Key Highlights

  • Badlands National Park
  • Badlands Loop
  • Legendary Wall Drug
  • Sheep Mountain Thrills
  • Wall Drug Visit
  • Sage Creek Expedition
  • Seamless Experience
  • Full-Day Excursion
  • Ben Reifel Visitor Center
  • Baja Agate Fields

Tour Inclusions

  • Leisurely Pace, No Rushing
  • All Guides CPR/AED Certified
  • Expert Guide of the Black Hills
  • Snacks & Goodies
  • Bottled Water
  • Pick up & Drop off at your accommodations
  • Photos Taken By The Guide
  • Private Tour Exclusive to Your Group
  • All Admissions and Entry Fees​
SMART WAIVER
TRAVEL INSURANCE

A Guided Tour Makes All The Difference

Embarking on this tour is an unforgettable journey into the heart of one of South Dakota’s most extraordinary landscapes. Our adventure begins in Rapid City, where we provide convenient pickup directly from your accommodations, ensuring a stress-free start to your day of exploration. We love this park, and know how to show it off. A guided tour is the way to go. Comfort, all-inclusive, and a safe comprehensive tour with a fun guide. 

A Landscape Like No Other

As we approach, the scenery transforms into something truly remarkable. From a distance, the jagged formations appear almost like an artist’s masterpiece—a surreal painting brought to life. Pinnacles and spires rise dramatically from the flat grasslands, with cliffs soaring into the sky behind them. The scene feels both serene and untamed, as though a hidden world lies just beyond your view.

Sage Creek Rim Road

Sage Creek Rim Road is accessible using our vehicles and is a great place to get photos.  This place feels untouched and raw, almost like being transported back to when these majestic creatures roamed free across vast plains undisturbed by human activity or interference. It’s genuinely incredible witnessing firsthand how abundant life still exists here in these otherwise forgotten lands.
 
After spending some time taking pictures and enjoying nature’s beauty, we’ll continue on down the road, feeling energized by our encounter with wildlife right outside our car window—a reminder that no matter where you are, there is always something extraordinary waiting within your view.

Badlands Loop Road

With cameras ready and anticipation building, we begin to make our way down the road. There’s so much about this place – it was designed by Peter Norbeck, and Frank Lloyd Wright even admired it!
 
You’ll notice the subtle changes in the landscape as we drive further along. The brown and pink of the sandy soil gradually give way to more muted shades of yellow and purple. It seems almost as if these deposits have been here since time immemorial – they are ancient beyond belief! One can’t help but feel like mere specks compared to these monumental works of nature.
 
The scenery keeps changing as though some invisible hand is painting new images every second. Mesas rise up from flat plains while canyons twist their way around craggy peaks that look like sandcastles built by giants long ago forgotten. But what may amaze you most are the vibrant colors – pinks bleached into creams; purples faded into grey blues; oranges glowing into reds more intense than fire itself. If we still have time, we’ll take Bombing Range Road to Sheep Mountain Table.
badlands national park tour
wildlife badlands national park

Wall Drug & More...

We’ll make a special stop at the Ben Reifel Visitors Center, named after Ben Reifel, a Rosebud Lakota public official. There is an interpretive center, gift shop, restrooms, and Rangers to answer any questions. Before leaving the park, we’ll visit the famous Wall Drug and learn the story behind the legend. 
 
Visiting the Badlands is an experience like no other. From the breathtakingly beautiful buttes to the abundant wildlife and fossils, it’s something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.
 
The views of this stunning park are spectacular. In addition to being constantly awe-inspiring, they keep you guessing with various landscapes and formations – one moment, you could be admiring the stunning prairie-like grasslands. Next, it’ll be time to view deep canyons and mysterious ravines! There’s always something new to discover around every corner.
 
But it’s not just the views that make the experience so memorable – remember the wildlife! The park is home to remarkable animals, like bighorn sheep, bison, mule deer, and black-footed ferrets. You can spot birds like peregrine falcons soaring high above or prairie dogs scurrying along the ground. What time is the best time to visit? No matter what time of year you come – spring, summer, winter, or fall – there’s always something unique to experience in this beautiful part of South Dakota.
 
Finally, this place is known for its fascinating history and fossils. Its ancient sedimentary rocks preserve a rich record of life from millions of years ago and have yielded numerous fossils that tell stories about our planet’s past. From saber-toothed cats to ancient bison bones, there’s enough to captivate any budding paleontologist or curious explorer.
 
Come and experience the beauty on My XO Adventures Tour – it’s a memory you’ll never forget! With its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and fascinating history, it truly is one of the most unique places in America.

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About Badlands National Park

Our Sunset and Night Sky tour of the park is one of our favorites. 
My XO Adventures operates tours throughout the year. Day or Night, photos of the park are highly sought after. Photos are found for sale throughout South Dakota and the Nation.
 

If visiting the Stronghold Unit, stop by the White River Visitor Center for more information. Although this area can have a rough road, some say it is the best sunset the park offers. 

My XO Adventures is happy to share our most comprehensive list of FAQ’s. We get asked many questions and have kept track of each along the way. To experience Badlands National Park properly, we encourage you to read each section to maximize your experience. 

The Badlands of South Dakota are an otherworldly and beautiful place, but they can also be dangerous. When visiting the Badlands, it is essential to take safety precautions before venturing into this landscape. 
 
First and foremost, it is strongly advised to go with a group when visiting the Badlands. The Badlands are a wild and isolated place, and it can be easy to get lost or injured without the help of family, friends, or tour guides.
 
It is essential to come prepared with all the necessary safety equipment. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with good grip, as the terrain can be pretty rocky and uneven. We see visitors wearing sandals often, and that leads to broken ankles and worse. Pack plenty of water and food, as well as a first-aid kit. 
 
When visiting the Badlands, one should familiarize themselves with the climate of South Dakota and prepare for sudden changes. Summer temperatures can be extreme, so wear light clothing and sunscreen to protect against sunburn. In the winter, temperatures can drop quickly, so dress appropriately and bring a flashlight if you plan on adventuring during the night.
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Your questions answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Approximately 50 minutes from Rapid City.

Park Headquarters is located at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750

(I-90, Exit 131): 21020 SD Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750.

(I-90, Exit 110): 24240 Hwy 240, Wall, SD 57790.

20640 SD Hwy 377, Interior, SD 57750.

In our opinion, the best time to visit the park is April to May and September to October.

Without a doubt, the best time to visit is during the Golden Hour and Sunset.

Plenty of water, good hiking shoes, binoculars, camera gear, a walking stick, and a cooler packed with food.

Unless there is treacherous weather and the roads are impassable, the park is Open 24/7.

If you aren’t basing in Rapid City, the best places are Hansen Inn & Cabins, Frontier Cabins, and Cedar Pass Lodge.

Yes! Just before entering the Pinnacles Entrance is Nomad Way. This road will take you to the Boondocking area of Badlands National Park.

The park is approximately 244,000 acres and is divided between the Northern Unit, Southern Unit, and Palmer Creek Unit.

The Name of the Badlands  in Lakota is Mako Sica (Mahko Sheecha).

The park is called so due to its extremes. Cold and Hot, Dry and Wet. There is very little shade. The are is difficult to travel through and make habitation very challenging.

The Badlands first became a National Monument in 1939, then a National Park in 1978.

Simply put, it is a geological example of deposition followed by erosion. This is what forms it’s beautiful shapes, spires and shadows.

Plenty. Hiking, Photography, Sightseeing, Wildlife Viewing, Night Sky Viewing, Sunset Viewing and much more!

This park and tour is one of the most underrated National Park experiences in the United States. It is wild, expansive and uncrowded. One can enjoy the raw nature it provides, and it is utterly beautiful.