Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
Crowds and weather by month · South Dakota · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: May — 45% as busy as July, about 3,644 visitors a day, average high 72°F (22°C).
Quietest month: January — about 353 visitors a day, average high 37°F (cold).
Busiest month: July — about 8,054 visitors a day.
Badlands month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryQuietest× Cold | Very quiet4% of peak · 353/day | 37° / 14°F3° / -10°C · 0.5 in · 2 wet days · snow 6 in |
| February× Cool | Very quiet5% of peak · 413/day | 41° / 16°F5° / -9°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days · snow 6 in |
| March× Cool | Very quiet11% of peak · 865/day | 52° / 26°F11° / -3°C · 1.2 in · 3 wet days · snow 6 in |
| April△ Very few visitors — check what is open | Quiet16% of peak · 1,310/day | 62° / 35°F17° / 2°C · 2.3 in · 5 wet days · snow 6 in |
| MayBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate45% of peak · 3,644/day | 72° / 46°F22° / 8°C · 3.6 in · 6 wet days · snow 1 in |
| June○ Mild weather, busy | Peak93% of peak · 7,511/day | 83° / 56°F28° / 13°C · 3.5 in · 7 wet days |
| July× Hot | Peak100% of peak · 8,054/day | 91° / 62°F33° / 17°C · 2.2 in · 5 wet days |
| August× Hot | Peak85% of peak · 6,857/day | 90° / 60°F32° / 16°C · 1.8 in · 4 wet days |
| September○ Mild weather, busy | Moderate60% of peak · 4,830/day | 82° / 50°F28° / 10°C · 1.4 in · 3 wet days |
| October△ Very few visitors — check what is open | Quiet29% of peak · 2,329/day | 65° / 38°F19° / 3°C · 1.6 in · 3 wet days · snow 2 in |
| November× Cool | Very quiet9% of peak · 687/day | 50° / 25°F10° / -4°C · 0.5 in · 2 wet days · snow 4 in |
| December× Cold | Very quiet5% of peak · 399/day | 39° / 17°F4° / -9°C · 0.5 in · 2 wet days · snow 8 in |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 989,354 | |
| 2016 | 996,263 | |
| 2017 | 1,054,325 | |
| 2018 | 1,008,942 | |
| 2019 | 970,998 | |
| 2020pandemic | 916,932 | |
| 2021pandemic | 1,224,226 | |
| 2022 | 1,006,809 | |
| 2023 | 1,046,400 | |
| 2024 | 1,094,245 | |
| 2025 | 1,139,361 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station INTERIOR 3 NE — Interior (near Ben Reifel Visitor Center), at 2,441 ft (744 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Badlands National Park website before you go.
Other parks at their best in May
- Yellowstone
55% of peak · high 55°F
- Acadia
41% of peak · high 64°F
- Olympic
49% of peak · high 63°F
- Rocky Mountain
42% of peak · high 61°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station INTERIOR 3 NE, USC00394184, 2,441 ft / 744 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.