Badlands National Park Scenic Drive

Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota is one of the most striking and otherworldly landscapes in the United States. Known in Lakota as Makȟóšiča ("bad lands"), it features sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, spires, and colorful rock formations blended with vast mixed-grass prairies. Here are some key highlights: The park covers about 244,000 acres (around 379 square miles). It's located roughly 60-75 miles east of Rapid City, easily accessible via Interstate 90 (exits near Wall or Cactus Flats). The nearest small town is Interior, SD.