Established Camping
Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Notice: Cedar Pass Campground will be opening for the 2025 season on March 28th, weather permitting. Reservations for arrival dates before April 11th are currently closed due to the possibility of snow and ice. We will open reservations for the 3/28 to 4/11 period as soon as weather allows.
Description
National Park Service
Badlands National Park
Overview
Surrounded by the vast, open prairie and featuring expansive views of the Badlands, Cedar Pass Campground is a great base camp from which to explore Badlands National Park. Featuring 96 sites, this seasonal campground is open from late March through mid-October, and is conveniently located within easy walking distance of Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant, and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
Recreation
An evening program led by park rangers is held nightly at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater. This event runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, beginning each evening with a half-hour educational talk about the Badlands, covering a wide array of topics that change every evening. Once the educational part of the presentation finishes, the rangers begin a guided night sky viewing program. Interesting facts and features of our night sky will be explored and pointed out for you via laser, and telescopes are often provided to view star clusters, planets, and the Milky Way. The Ampitheater parking lot is conveniently located at the entrance to Cedar Pass Campground, in easy walking distance for most campers! For evening program start times, please see the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Cedar Pass Lodge, or the host kiosk at the campground entrance.
Natural Features
Cedar Pass Campground is surrounded by prairie grasslands and Badlands buttes, or geologic formations. These formations contain sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, claystone, limestone, volcanic ash, and shale. The natural beauty of this landscape makes for stunning sunrises and sunsets, while low population density and very little light pollution creates a beautiful night sky most evenings.
Nearby Attractions
Ben Reifel Vistor Center Cedar Pass Lodge Minuteman National Historic Site Prairie Homestead Mount Rushmore (1 hour, 45 mins) Custer State Park (1 hour, 45 mins)
Location
Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota
Directions
From Sioux Falls: Travel west on I-90 to exit 131. Turn south onto Hwy 240, the Badlands Loop Road and enter Badlands National Park at the Northeast entrance. Travel 8 miles to Cedar Pass Lodge, making a slight left onto Hwy 377. Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. From Rapid City: Travel east on I-90 to exit 110. From exit 110, turn south onto Hwy 240, the Badlands Loop Road and enter Badlands National Park at the Pinnacles entrance. Travel 30 miles. Turn right on Hwy 377. Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. From Rapid City: (alternate route) Travel east on I-90 to exit 131. Turn south onto Hwy 240, the Badlands Loop Road and enter Badlands National Park at the Northeast entrance. Travel 8 miles to Cedar Pass Lodge, making a slight left onto Hwy 377. Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. Scenic Highway 44: Travel southeast on Hwy 44 to the town of Interior and continue northeast on Hwy 377 two miles to Cedar Pass Lodge
Coordinates
43.745 N
101.94836 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiGood
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileGood
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
Drive Time
- 1 hr 8 min from Rapid City
- 4 hrs 42 min from Bismarck
- 4 hrs 42 min from Casper
- 4 hrs 56 min from Cheyenne