A Guide to National Parks in South Dakota

South Dakota has five national parks for the adventurer in all of us, from Badlands National Park to the iconic Mount Rushmore.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From rolling prairies that sweep right up to breathtaking mountains, towering rock formations, and steep canyons, you can see all the beauty of
South Dakota
in its five national parks: Badlands, Wind Cave, Mount Rushmore, Minuteman Missile, and Jewel Cave.
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Badlands National Park

Location: Interior, South Dakota
Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round (park may close for extreme weather conditions)
Admission price: $30 per vehicle (good for 7 days)

What makes Badlands National Park special

The 244,000-acre
Badlands National Park
has a little bit of all the natural beauty South Dakota has to offer, from layered rock formations to steep canyons and scenic lookouts.
  • Be on the lookout for
    native wildlife
    in the park, including bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs.
  • The park has some of the
    richest fossil beds
    in the world—paleontologists are still working in the park to excavate fossils of ancient mammals!

What to do in Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park has activities for the whole family, from fossil hunting to stargazing!
  • Hiking: Eight hiking trails are available. For the best views, hike up to Sheep Mountain Table for a bird’s-eye view of the Badlands.
  • Stargazing: Stick around the park until dusk for some serious stargazing. Without any light pollution from nearby cities, the Badlands offer some of the best views of the night sky anywhere in the country. 
  • Fossils: Want to see the ancient mammals that once roamed the Badlands? Take a hike along the Fossil Exhibit Trail to see fossils excavated from the Badlands rocks, then stop in at the Fossil Preparation Lab to talk with paleontologists still working in the park!
  • Scenic drives: Several areas of the park have scenic driving routes so you can view the Badlands from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle. 
  • Wildlife spotting: Whether you’re hiking or driving, keep a look out for some of the park’s wild inhabitants, from elk to bison, bighorn sheep, and even prairie dogs.

When to visit Badlands National Park

Weather in the Badlands can be highly variable and sometimes volatile. Summer temperatures can climb up to 116 F with strong storms and hail. 
Winters are harsh, with temperatures dipping to -40 F and 12-24 inches of snow on the ground. If you can, plan your trip during milder months like April and May or September and October. 
MORE: South Dakota road closures

Wind Cave National Park

Location: Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hours of operation: Park: 24 hours year-round. Cave Tour: schedule varies
Admission price: FREE entrance to park. Cave Tours are an extra charge

What makes Wind Cave National Park special

One of the oldest national parks in America,
Wind Cave National Park
has enough outdoor activities to keep the whole family busy.
  • Wind Cave is one of the largest and most complex cave systems in the world!
  • The cave’s walls are full of
    boxwork
    , an incredibly rare honeycomb calcite formation. 

What to do in Wind Cave National Park

While
cave tours
might be the most popular thing to do at Wind Cave National Park, there are plenty of other activities as well. 
  • Backcountry camping: for $24 per night, you can camp in the park and spend your time watching the wildlife or stargazing.
  • Cave tours: the park offers five different cave tours ranging from moderate to strenuous difficulty. You can even experience the cave by candlelight! There is an extra fee for tours, and some aren’t suitable for children under 8. 
  • Biking: with over 30 miles of trails, you can enjoy the natural beauty around Wind Cave on your bicycle.
  • Wildlife viewing: try to spot some of Wind Cave’s native inhabitants, from pronghorn antelope to bison and prairie dogs.
  • Hiking: enjoy the park’s 30 miles of hiking trails and find some scenic views and wildlife.

When to visit Wind Cave National Park

The weather is most variable in the high summer months and winter months, with extreme temperature ranges and strong storms. Always check weather forecasts before visiting the park, especially if you plan to camp. 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Location: Keystone, South Dakota
Hours of operation: Year-round. 5:00AM-11:00PM March 13-September 30. 5:00AM-9:00PM October 1-March 12
Admission price: FREE entrance to the park, but parking fees may apply

What makes Mount Rushmore special

Although most people think of the iconic
Mount Rushmore
sculpture, the Mount Rushmore Memorial park has
a lot more to offer
on the whole. 
  • Experienced climbers will love the challenging bouldering terrain in the area.
  • Families and athletes of all skill levels can take a guided tour on horseback.
  • Nature lovers won’t want to skip rockhounding. Over 40 mineral types can be spotted.
The park covers 1,278 acres, and Mount Rushmore itself reaches 5,725 feet high!
The debate on which figures to add to Mount Rushmore was fierce—other contenders included Lewis and Clark, their guide Sacagewea, Lakota Chief Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill, and Lakota Chief Crazy Horse.

What to do at Mount Rushmore

While most visitors to Mount Rushmore want to see the famous presidential sculptures, there are plenty of other activities to do at the park.
  • Visitor Center: Stop by the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center for educational videos about the park and daily ranger talks. 
  • Ranger-led hikes: Take a guided tour of the park with a park ranger as they talk about the history of the park and answer questions.
  • Memorial lighting: Stick around the park until dusk for a special evening program at the amphitheater followed by the lighting of the memorial.
  • Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota Heritage Village: Near the start of the Presidential Trail, check out special areas that highlight the history and culture of the Native Americans that lived in the Black Hills.
  • Youth Exploration Area: Explore the interactive areas just for kids along the Presidential Trail to learn about the history and culture of the park. 

When to visit Mount Rushmore

The park’s busiest months are June, July, and August. If you want to avoid crowds, visit in May, September, or October. 
You can also avoid peak crowds if you visit the park before 9:30AM or after 3:30PM.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Location: Philip, South Dakota
Hours of operation: Year-round, Tuesday-Saturday 9:00AM-3:00PM
Admission price: FREE entry, but guided tours are extra

What makes Minuteman Missile National Historic Site special

During the Cold War, over 1,000 nuclear warheads were hidden across the Great Plains.
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
was one location where missiles were kept.
  • The Minuteman Missile site contained two facilities with 15 launch control sites that commanded 150 launch facilities.
  • Servicemen and women that worked on missile crews had to be ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in case a missile was ever needed.

What to do at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Minuteman Missile Site has three different areas to visit, with several tour options.
  • Visitor Center: Stop in at the visitor center for educational videos and exhibits dedicated to the missile facilities and the servicemen and women that worked there.
  • Launch Control Delta-01: Tour the topside support building and underground launch facility. The park’s cell phone mobile tour will take you up to the gates, but to tour the facility itself you’ll need to book a guided ranger tour. 
  • Delta-09 Missile Silo: Tour the missile silo that—until the 1990s—contained a fully operational 1.2-megaton warhead. Now the silo contains a decommissioned Minuteman II missile for guests to view. 

When to visit Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

The weather can vary greatly on the Great Plains, from hot and dry summers to extremely cold and snowy winters. If you can, plan your visit around milder months and always check weather reports before heading out to the park.
Winds can also be strong on the Plains, commonly with gusts over 50mph.

Jewel Cave National Park

Location: Custer, South Dakota
Hours of operation: Daily 8:30AM-4:30PM (some facilities not available during the off-season)
Admission price: Day-use areas are free, guided tours cost extra

What makes Jewel Cave National Park special

Originally discovered by Frank and Albert Michaud,
Jewel Cave
was supposed to be a mining site, but when the brothers discovered the calcite formations that glittered like jewels, they quickly turned the cave into a tourist attraction. 
  • Jewel Cave is the third-longest cave system in the world with over 210 miles mapped and surveyed.
  • Cave exploration still continues, with teams spending four days and three nights at a time in the underground labyrinth. It’s estimated that only 5% of the cave system has been explored.

What to do in Jewel Cave National Park

  • Guided tours: The park offers four different guided tours ranging from an easy Discovery Tour to the 3-hour Wild Cave Tour for more adventurous explorers.
  • Hiking: The park has three different hiking trails: A Walk On The Roof Trail (0.25 miles), Canyon Trail (3.5 miles), and Hell Canyon Trail (5.5 miles). 
  • Historic area: Visit the historic cabin built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, then enjoy a picnic in the picnic area underneath the Ponderosa Pines.
  • Wildflower viewing: Hike some of the trails in the park to view over 393 varieties of wildflowers.
  • Wildlife viewing: Jewel Cave park is home to many different species of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mountain lions, porcupines, long-tailed weasels, and many more!

When to visit Jewel Cave National Park

Weather in the Black Hills ranges from extremely hot and dry conditions in the summer to bitter cold and heavy snowfall in the winter. May is the wettest month, with severe storms common. 
Once again, check the local weather conditions before visiting the park. 

How to prepare to visit South Dakota’s national parks

Before setting off for your South Dakota adventure, make sure you take a look at these tips:
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