By Edwin Thomas
About Camping in Badlands National Park
Located in South Dakota, Badlands National Park offers a distinct landscape, and with it a special camping and outdoors experience. The land alternates between flat, grassy prairie and ridges of barren rock and gravel. By day, the temperature can soar to well over 100 degrees, and at night it can plunge to a frigid minus-40. However, the area is famous for its fossils, is rich in American Indian history and offers night skies that must be seen to be believed.
Admission
Basic admission passes to the park are good for seven days. The 2009 fees were $15 per car, $10 per motorcycle and $7 per bicyclist or hiker.
Cedar Pass Campground
This 100-site campground is adjacent to the Reifel Visitor Center, and each site costs $10 per night. The facilities are the best in the park, with cold running water, toilets and picnic tables.
Group Camping
Cedar Creek includes some group camp sites, which are separate from the ordinary sites. They are $2.50 per person per night, with a minimum fee of $25.
Sage Creek Campground
Sage Creek is free but primitive. It has only picnic tables and pit toilets.
Backcountry Camping
Campers are allowed to set up backcountry sites anywhere in the park, so long as the campsite is within 1/2 mile of a marked path, road, or trail.
Rules
Disturbing any of the plants, fossils or animals in the park is prohibited, and all pets need to be leashed on park grounds. Open fires and fireworks are banned because of the high risk of grass fires.
About the Author:
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
Photo Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
