National Parks in South Dakota
South Dakota has 2 national parks: Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park. It is also home to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. None of them requires an entry reservation.
Fees and rules checked against NPS.gov · Updated October 6, 2026
Badlands
South Dakota
Striped buttes, spires and mixed-grass prairie rich in fossils, bison and bighorn sheep
$30 per car
Mount Rushmore
National Memorial, South Dakota
Four presidents carved into Black Hills granite, 60 feet tall each.
Free entry, $10 parking1 video
Wind Cave
South Dakota
One of the longest caves on Earth, famous for boxwork, under bison-filled prairie
Free entry
Compare the parks
| Park | Entry | Reservation | Best time to go | How long to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands | $30 per car | Not required | May, June, September and early October bring milder temperatures than the hot, stormy midsummer and the cold, windy winter. | One full day covers the Loop Road and short trails; two days lets you add Sage Creek and a night under the stars. |
| Mount Rushmore | Free entry, $10 parking | Not required | May to September, with the evening lighting program in summer. September brings cooler days and smaller crowds. Winter visits are quiet and the sculpture is often dusted with snow. | 2 to 3 hours at the memorial; 2 to 3 days for the Black Hills. |
| Wind Cave | Free entry | Not required | May, June and September bring the best weather for prairie hikes, while the cave stays a steady 54 degrees year-round. | Half a day for one cave tour and a drive; a full day adds hiking and wildlife watching. |
Nearby parks in other states
- Theodore Roosevelt National ParkNorth Dakota · about 210 miles as the crow flies
- Rocky Mountain National ParkColorado · about 249 miles as the crow flies
- Yellowstone National ParkWyoming, Montana, Idaho · about 354 miles as the crow flies
- Grand Teton National ParkWyoming · about 360 miles as the crow flies
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkColorado · about 409 miles as the crow flies
See the full list of U.S. national parks · Open the park map · Compare park passes