Elena Mallia 
Going on a holiday to the incredible Badlands National Park and you don’t know where to stay? Here I am to help you with your decision!
In order to save you some precious time researching, I went through the top booking websites and read through the reviews to collect all the best hotels near Badlands National Park, South Dakota. To give you more options, I included top hotels (all prices from luxury to budget), but also cabins, VRBOs, and ranches.
There is only one hotel situated directly inside the park, while most hotels are scattered around the nearest towns to the park and the Black Hills, including Wall, Interior (the village closest to Ben Reifel Visitor Center), and Rapid City.
NOTE: The majority of the accommodations mentioned in this travel guide are scored lower than what I usually recommend for a holiday stay, but there are not many options near the Badlands National Park, so I decided to include the best ones in terms of location and value.
When you find the best lodging option for your trip, remember to book your room immediately or at least some months in advance, as the good accommodations get booked out incredibly fast!
Let’s hit the road!
Contents
- Quick Picks for Your Stay
- 1. Sage Creek Campground – inside Badlands National Park
- 2. Badlands Frontier Cabins – for families
- 3. Best Western Plains Motel – top pet-friendly hotel
- 4. Super 8 by Wyndham Wall – best location
- 5. Americas Best Value Inn – the closest hotel to the airport
- 6. Days Inn by Wyndham Wall – top service
- 7. Peaceful Country Living – for big groups
- 8. Secluded Badlands Ranch – for nature lovers
- 9. Badlands Budget host – best value for the money
- 10. Circle View Guest Ranch – for a tranquil stay
- 11. Cedar Pass Lodge – a historic property near Badlands
- 12. Staybridge Suites – best hotel in Rapid City
- FAQs about hotels near Badlands National Park
- Conclusion
Quick Picks for Your Stay
If you just want to quickly book the accommodation for your trip, check out this list with the best hotels and cabins near Badlands National Park:
- Best location inside the park – Sage Creek Campground
- Top Badlands hotel in Rapid City – Staybridge Suites
- Best Badlands hotel in Wall Town – Best Western Plains Motel
- Best cabins near Badlands national park – Badlands Frontier Cabins
Since the accommodation is scattered in the nearby area of the Badlands National Park, here’s a map so that you can visually see where each is located:
1. Sage Creek Campground – inside Badlands National Park
If you want to be located right inside Badlands National Park, the Sage Creek Campground is the only place that permits you to do that, hosting 96 camping sites with breathtaking views of the Badlands.
There is actually no charge to stay in this primitive campground, so camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis and accepts both tents and RV sites. Even though you are entirely nestled in nature and surrounded by beautiful wildlife, you will have access to several facilities to make your stay more comfy, like a picnic table, phone service, and toilets.
2. Badlands Frontier Cabins – for families
Located in Wall, only a 10-minute drive from the Badlands National Park entrance, this is one of the best hotels for families, offering cozy and fun cabins for up to 6 guests.
The Badlands Frontier Cabins has everything you need to make your trip more comfortable: a 24-hour front desk always available to help you, free Wi-Fi, free private parking (so you can explore the park whenever you want), and a delicious free breakfast served every morning. And wait to see the rooms, all coming with a flat-screen TV, a patio, a fully equipped kitchen, and a private bathroom with a shower.
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3. Best Western Plains Motel – top pet-friendly hotel
Located in Wall, this hotel makes the Badlands National Park easily accessible for guests, being at only 10 minutes driving from its entrance, and is the perfect place if you want to bring your four-legged friend with you!
In fact, here, the rooms are pet-friendly and come with a flat-screen cable TV, a coffee machine, and free Wi-Fi, as well as access to many cool facilities. Some examples? The property has a seasonal indoor and outdoor pool (both heated), a games room for entertainment, a hot tub for full relaxation, and an on-site fitness center to stay in shape. Don’t forget the complimentary breakfast served every morning (just delicious!).
4. Super 8 by Wyndham Wall – best location
This hotel is located in Wall, just off of I-90: perfect if you want to be at a very short drive from the national park and other local attractions, like Sage Creek Wilderness Area, the Black Hills, and Mount Rushmore, where you’ll find many amazing places to stay for tourists.
You will start your day full of energy with free breakfast and coffee served every morning at the property, and then go exploring the surrounding area with your car (there is free parking available on-site!). Work travelers can have meetings in the business center. The rooms here are amazing, coming with cribs for babies, hairdryers, and private bathrooms.
5. Americas Best Value Inn – the closest hotel to the airport
Are you the type of person who’s always worried about losing the flight? Then you should check out this hotel, located in Wall, at walking distance from the Wall Municipal Airport and at just 10 minutes from Badlands National Park.
Here you will get free breakfast each morning and then spend your day splashing in the seasonal outdoor pool or working at the business center (when you’re not exploring the park, of course!). But one of the best things about the property is definitely its rooms, featuring free Wi-Fi, cable TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, a microwave, and a refrigerator. If you want to bring your four-legged friend with you, you’ll need to pay a fee of US$50 plus tax per night per pet!
6. Days Inn by Wyndham Wall – top service
The Days Inn by Wyndham Wall, located at a 10-minute drive from the Badlands National Park, offers the best service you can ask for. The staff here are super helpful and friendly and will make you at home from the very first moment!
But the hotel has much more to offer you: cool amenities like free Wi-Fi, free parking, a fitness center to stay in shape, a business center for work-related meetings, free coffee and breakfast served every morning, and spacious rooms with refrigerators and microwaves. Another plus? You can even do an early check-in or mobile check-in, so you can arrive at the property whenever you want!
7. Peaceful Country Living – for big groups
If you are going on a trip with a big group of friends or family, this beautiful residence is for you, featuring 3 uniquely decorated bedrooms for up to 7 guests, and a great location in Wall, a few minute’s drive from Badlands National Park.
Each room offers spectacular views of the park, free Wi-Fi, comfy beds, and access to all the comforts you have at your own home, like a large wrap-around deck with a gas fire pit and gas grill (perfect for cooking your favorite meals), a picnic table with chairs and a large living room. This area is also perfect for enjoying nature at its finest. Make sure you watch the stars at night and catch a sunrise in the morning or a sunset in the evening!
8. Secluded Badlands Ranch – for nature lovers
If during your holiday you just want to be completely nestled in nature and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you should check out this private and secluded ranch, located in Scenic, a few minutes’ drive from the Badlands National Park.
The property hosts up to 6 guests, but there are also 2 campsites available for additional fees and a spacious deck to enjoy beautiful sunsets. There is a fully equipped kitchen where you can cook your favorite breakfast. There’s no free Wi-Fi at the property, so take the occasion to deeply connect with nature and spend your days exploring the surroundings, where you can go rock hunting, hiking, four-wheeling, horseback riding, and stargazing at night!
9. Badlands Budget host – best value for the money
Are you traveling on a budget, but you still want to have a good stay near Badlands National Park? Then you should check out this lovely motel located in Interior (at a short drive from the park entrance), offering family rooms for very reasonable prices!
Here you will have access to a seasonal outdoor pool, private parking, a tranquil garden, a terrace, a children’s playground for your kids, and an on-site restaurant for delicious meals (otherwise, you can also use the barbecue available for guests!). And wait to see the rooms, all equipped with a desk, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, and some even a balcony.
10. Circle View Guest Ranch – for a tranquil stay
Located in Interior, at a short, 10-minute drive from Badlands National Park, this tranquil ranch is nestled in 2,800 acres (1,130 hectares) of stunning prairie, rock formations, picturesque rolling hills, pastures, and tree groves, so it is perfect if you want to enjoy some peace far from the big tourist crowds (and perhaps spot some Bighorn sheep!).
There are only 7 rooms available for guests, so you will have all the privacy you need at the property, and they all come with many comforts like a private bathroom, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a full ranch breakfast included in the price (make sure you don’t miss that)! Note that due to the accommodations’ proximity to each other, guests under the age of 10 are not allowed in the main guest house!
11. Cedar Pass Lodge – a historic property near Badlands
Dating back to 1926, the Cedar Pass Lodge was the 1st lodging option built near Badlands National Park and is located in Interior, at walking distance from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center at the park entrance.
In the Cedar Pass Lodge, you can choose from eco-friendly cabins and camping options. Even though they’re historic accommodations, the cabins feature many modern amenities, like private bathrooms, beautiful furnishings, coffeemakers, hair dryers, TVs, mini-fridges, and microwaves, and they will give you access to cool facilities on-site, such as a gift shop and a restaurant.
12. Staybridge Suites – best hotel in Rapid City
If you want to have easy access to both the Badlands National Park and cool tourist attractions, you should stay in Rapid City, located just 1-hour trip from the park and brimming with bars, restaurants, and historical landmarks.
The best place to stay in Rapid City is definitely the Staybridge Suites, offering pet-friendly rooms for up to 6 people, all equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, and some of them even a fully equipped kitchenette. But make sure you don’t spend the whole day in your room: the property also hosts an indoor pool, fitness center, and relaxing hot tub.
| 📍 Best location inside Badlands NP: | Sage Creek Campground |
| 👨👩👧👦 Best family hotel near Badlands NP: | Badlands Frontier Cabins |
| 🏙️ Top Badlands hotel in Rapid City: | Staybridge Suites |
| 🏡 Best cabins near Badlands NP: | Cedar Pass Lodge |
| 💵 Avg. hotel price near Badlands NP: | US$200 |
FAQs about hotels near Badlands National Park
🏨 Which are the best hotels near Badlands National Park, South Dakota?
The best hotels near Badlands National Park, South Dakota, are the Best Western Plains Motel located in Wall, the Cedar Pass Lodge, a few minutes walk from the park, and Badlands Frontier Cabins, perfect for a stay with the family.
📍 What town is closest to Badlands National Park, South Dakota?
Wall and Interior are closer to Badlands NP but are much smaller with fewer attractions. Rapid City is the best town to stay near Badlands National Park, South Dakota, offering access to rental cars, restaurants, tourist attractions, and natural landscapes.
🗓️ How many days do you need at Badlands National Park, South Dakota?
You should spend at least 2 days in Badlands National Park – the best-known Oligocene fossil resource in the world. You can stay more if you want to have time to explore other natural wonders of the area, like Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
⭐ Which are the most unique places to stay near Badlands National Park, South Dakota?
The most unique places to stay near Badlands National Park, South Dakota, are the Badlands Frontier Cabins, perfect for families, or the Secluded Badlands Ranch for a stay completely nestled in nature.
🏙️ Which are the top hotels in Rapid City?
The top hotels to stay in Rapid City and have easy access also to the Badlands National Park are the 3-stars Staybridge Suites or the more affordable Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City.
Conclusion
We have just seen all the best hotels near Badlands National Park, South Dakota, including cabins, ranches, and campgrounds. Which one will be the base for your fantastic holiday?
Remember that there is only 1 campground available to stay inside the park, but there are many different towns to stay near Badlands: Rapid City, Wall, Interior, Scenic, etc. So, take that into consideration before booking your hotel.
In terms of good location and value, below you’ll find my 2 absolute favorite Badlands National Park hotels:
- Badlands Frontier Cabins – Located in Wall, at only a 10-minute drive from the Badlands National Park entrance, this is one of the best hotels for families.
- Staybridge Suites – Located in Rapid City, this amazing hotel offers pet-friendly rooms for up to 6 people and access to cool facilities like a hot tub and outdoor pool.
If you like one of them, make sure you book your room immediately: hotels in Badlands National Park get booked out super fast, and you don’t want to risk losing the spot!
And if you have anything you want to share, please do that in the comments below. Looking forward to reading your comments.
Have the coolest trip in Badlands National Park!
Elena
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