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Badlands · August
August is the busiest time to visit Badlands — quieter than July, busier than September.
Expect peak crowds (9/10) and about 14 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
The park's busiest time. Reservations, early starts, and patience recommended.
About 86% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
August draws about 19% of Badlands’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, WASTA 21.6 SSW, SD US
This week
| Day | Conditions | High | Low | Precip chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 27 | Partly cloudy | 95°F | 62°F | 3% |
| Fri 28 | Overcast | 98°F | 66°F | 17% |
| Sat 29 | Overcast | 101°F | 73°F | 28% |
| Sun 30 | Overcast | 97°F | 71°F | 28% |
| Mon 31 | Overcast | 93°F | 67°F | 12% |
| Tue 1 | Overcast | 88°F | 69°F | 12% |
| Wed 2 | Overcast | 96°F | 75°F | 11% |
Forecast data by Open-Meteo
Source: Open-Meteo
What's open
The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Do not rely on GPS digital navigation systems to find your way to Badlands National Park. Please note that the Visitor Center at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior SD 57750 is located just off I-90.
Details on nps.gov →Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
August rates 9/10 for crowds (Peak) at Badlands National Park — about 86% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 205,777.
In August, Badlands averages a high of 0°F and a low of 0°F, with about 2.4 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Badlands costs $30 (Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days).
Badlands is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-August, Badlands gets about 14 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 4:54 AM and sunset around 6:52 PM.