National parks in South Dakota
South Dakota has 2 national parks: Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park.
Best time to visit Badlands National Park. Getting to Badlands National Park. Camping at Badlands National Park.
National parks in South Dakota
- Badlands National Park
Eroded buttes and mixed-grass prairie in South Dakota. Striped rock layers, open sky, and hot summers.
- Wind Cave National Park
A cave under mixed-grass prairie in South Dakota. Cave tours below; bison and prairie dogs on the surface.
Which national parks in South Dakota need a reservation National park campgrounds in South Dakota
Other parks within reach of South Dakota
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands National Park | 177 mi (285 km) | 4 hr 38 min | Best as a weekend |
| Wind Cave National Park | 227 mi (366 km) | 5 hr 50 min | Best as a weekend |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 300 mi (483 km) | 7 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 426 mi (686 km) | 10 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Voyageurs National Park | 426 mi (686 km) | 10 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Riding Mountain National Park | 479 mi (771 km) | 11 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park | 548 mi (883 km) | 13 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 550 mi (885 km) | 13 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yellowstone National Park | 572 mi (920 km) | 13 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Isle Royale National Park | 574 mi (924 km) | 14 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Biggest towns and cities in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Watertown
- Mitchell
- Yankton
- Pierre
- Huron
- Spearfish
- Vermillion
- Madison
- Sturgis
- Belle Fourche
- Dell Rapids
- Hot Springs
- Mobridge
- Canton
- Pine Ridge
- Milbank
- Winner
- Sisseton
- Chamberlain
- Redfield
- Flandreau
- Beresford
- North Eagle Butte
- Springfield
- Custer
- Webster
- Wagner
- Rosebud
- Groton
- Parkston
- Miller
- Salem
- Eagle Butte
- Oglala
- Freeman
- Fort Thompson
- Clear Lake
- Platte
- Gregory
- Britton
- Lemmon
- Mission
- Gettysburg
- De Smet
- Porcupine
- Martin
- Clark
- Tyndall
- Ipswich
- Wessington Springs
- Lake Andes
- Howard
- Highmore
- Philip
- Faulkton
- Plankinton
- Kadoka
- Armour
- Woonsocket
- Onida
- Selby
- Burke
- White River
- Dupree
- Timber Lake
- Murdo
- Leola
- Hayti
- Buffalo
- Bison
- Kennebec
- McIntosh
All counties in South Dakota
Common questions
How many national parks are in South Dakota?
2: Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park.
What is the closest national park to South Dakota?
Badlands National Park, roughly 177 mi (285 km) out and about 4 hr 38 min of driving from the centre of South Dakota.