Badlands National Park Entrance Fee and Pass Options (2026)

Where these numbers come from

Badlands follows the $30-vehicle pattern: $30 for a car, $25 for a motorcycle and $15 for a hiker or cyclist aged 16 or older, each valid seven days. The $55 annual pass is the park-only option. Passes can be bought online through recreation.gov or at any of three entrance stations.

Badlands is often a stop on a longer drive through South Dakota, so a single $30 pass is the common case. If your route also includes other federal fee sites, such as parks farther west, the $80 interagency pass can be cheaper once you reach three entries at $30. Commercial vehicles have their own price list and must be bought in person at the entrance stations.

Reservations and payment: No advance reservation is required for general entrance. Passes are sold online through recreation.gov and at three entrance stations; cash is not accepted.

Break-even arithmetic for U.S. residents: at $30 per vehicle, the interagency annual pass at $80 beats single passes once you make 3 entries across federal fee sites, since 3 x $30 = $90. The $55 park pass beats single passes from visit 2: 2 x $30 = $60. Use the pass break-even calculator to plug in your own mix of parks, or the entrance fee finder to compare other parks.

Nonresidents pay the listed gate price with no added surcharge at this park, so a visiting family in one car pays $30. The $250 interagency pass is only worth it if the trip includes many fee sites, because it takes 9 vehicle entries at $30 to equal its price. Keep in mind that other parks on the same trip, such as those on the 11-park surcharge list, can cost much more per person.

Fee-free days in 2026 are Feb 16, May 25, Jun 14, Jul 3-5, Aug 25, Sep 17, Oct 27 and Nov 11, but from 2026 they apply only to U.S. citizens and residents. As of 2026-09-30, the remaining dates this year are Oct 27 and Nov 11. Timed entry and reservation fees can still apply on those days. For nearby options on the same road trip, compare this neighboring park page and this second park page.

Sources

• NPS Badlands National Park fees
• NPS entrance passes and 2026 free days
• NPS nonresident fees

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.