Ready to enter a different world? This striking South Dakota landscape boasts a maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires. Skeletons of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats are among the many fossilized species. Wildlife — including bison, antelope, bighorn sheep and deer — abound in the park’s 244,000 acres and can often be seen while hiking, camping or traveling the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway. It’s a place where you can disconnect from everyday life, and as you soak up the surreal environment, you might feel like you’ve landed on a different planet. 

Keep reading for more trip-planning tools and frequently asked visitor questions to help plan your next great adventure to Badlands National Park.