If you’re staring at a map of the United States trying to figure out what state are the badlands in, you might actually get a few different answers depending on who you ask. Most people are thinking of South Dakota. That’s the big one. That’s the one with the jagged spires, the bighorn sheep, and the "Wall" that looks like a crumbled alien city rising out of the prairie. But honestly? The term "badlands" is actually a geologic description, not just a specific place name.
South Dakota holds the crown with Badlands National Park. It’s located in the southwestern part of the state, about an hour east of Rapid City. If you've ever seen photos of striped, reddish-orange mounds and deep, desolate canyons that look like they belong on Mars, that’s the spot. However, if you drive a few hours north into North Dakota, you’ll hit Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is also comprised of—you guessed it—badlands.
It's confusing. I get it.
The Lakota people called this terrain mako sica, which literally translates to "bad lands." When early French fur trappers struggled to haul their gear through the steep slopes and clay-slicked ravines, they dubbed it les mauvaises terres à traverser. Basically, it’s a nightmare to walk through, it's terrible for farming, but it's absolutely incredible to look at.
The Heavyweight: South Dakota’s Badlands National Park
When people ask what state are the badlands in, 90% of the time they are looking for South Dakota. This park covers 244,000 acres. It is massive. It’s not just a bunch of rocks; it’s a literal graveyard of the Eocene and Oligocene epochs. You can’t walk twenty feet on some of the trails without potentially stepping on a fossilized piece of an ancient rhino or a three-toed horse.
The geography here is defined by the "Wall." This is a massive rampart of eroded sedimentary rock that stretches for miles. To the north of the Wall, you have the upper prairie. To the south, the lower prairie. In between is a jagged drop-off of colorful mudstone and siltstone that has been carved by water and wind for half a million years.
It’s harsh.
In the summer, the temperature regularly swings past 100°F. In the winter, the wind-chill can drop so low it feels like it’s peeling the skin off your face. Yet, it’s teeming with life. You’ll see prairie dogs everywhere—basically the neighborhood watch of the plains—barking at you from their holes. Bison roam the western edge of the park near Sage Creek. If you’re lucky, or maybe unlucky depending on your perspective, you might spot a black-footed ferret, which is one of the rarest mammals in North America.
Why South Dakota Wins the Name Game
South Dakota’s Badlands are the most iconic because of their sheer scale and accessibility. You can jump off I-90, hit the Loop Road (Highway 240), and see the highlights in two hours. Most people stop at Wall Drug first—that massive, kitschy tourist trap with free ice water and 5-cent coffee—then head into the park.
But there’s a nuance here. The park is actually split into the North Unit and the Stronghold Unit. The Stronghold Unit is co-managed by the National Park Service and the Oglala Lakota Tribe. It’s much more remote. This is where the Ghost Dances took place in the 1890s. It’s a place of immense cultural and spiritual weight. You don't just "visit" that part of the park; you respect it.
The North Dakota Contender: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
So, is South Dakota the only answer to what state are the badlands in? Nope. North Dakota has a massive claim to this landscape too. Located near Medora, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is arguably prettier in a "living" sense. While South Dakota's Badlands are stark, white, and desolate, North Dakota’s Badlands have more vegetation. You get more greens and purples mixing with the grey clay.
The Little Missouri River carved these.
Teddy Roosevelt came here in the 1880s to hunt bison and try to heal from the devastating loss of his wife and mother, who both died on the same day. He fell in love with the "rugged" life. The North Dakota Badlands are what turned him into a conservationist. Without this specific patch of dirt in North Dakota, we might not even have a National Park system today.
- South Dakota: Sharper peaks, more fossils, very "alien" look.
- North Dakota: More rolling hills, forested pockets, home to wild horses.
Yes, wild horses. You can see bands of them running across the plateaus in the South Unit of the North Dakota park. It’s like something out of a Western movie, honestly.
Other States With "Badlands" Landscapes
Wait, there’s more. If we’re being technical about geology, several other states have badlands. They just don't always put it in the big font on the map.
Montana has the Makoshika State Park. It’s right across the border from North Dakota. "Makoshika" is just a variation of the same Lakota word for bad lands. It’s a goldmine for dinosaur enthusiasts. We’re talking Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops remains.
Nebraska has Toadstool Geologic Park. It’s small, tucked away in the Oglala National Grassland. It looks like giant stone mushrooms. It’s weird, lonely, and fantastic.
Oregon has the Painted Hills. While part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, they are essentially a colorful version of badlands. They look like someone took a paintbrush and striped the hills with red, gold, and black ochre.
New Mexico has the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. This is arguably the most "out there" version of the terrain. It’s full of hoodoos—thin spires of rock with a larger rock balanced on top. It feels less like a park and more like a fever dream.
How the Badlands Actually Formed
You might wonder why these places look so different from the surrounding grassy plains. It’s basically a story of deposition and erosion.
Millions of years ago, this area was a shallow sea. Then it was a tropical marsh. Then it was a forest. Each of those eras left behind a layer of "stuff"—sand, silt, mud, and volcanic ash from eruptions out west in the Rockies.
Eventually, the water drained away. The land rose.
Then the rain started. But here’s the kicker: the soil in these regions is mostly clay. Clay doesn’t soak up water very well. When it rains, the water just shears off the surface, taking chunks of the landscape with it. The erosion rate in South Dakota’s Badlands is about an inch per year. That’s incredibly fast in geologic time. In another 500,000 years, the South Dakota Badlands will be completely gone. Erased. Flattened.
Enjoy them while they're here.
Planning Your Trip: Practical Realities
If you're heading to South Dakota to see the "real" Badlands, don't just wing it. People get into trouble there.
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First, water. Bring more than you think. The air is so dry that your sweat evaporates before you even feel it, and you'll dehydrate without realizing it. Second, watch for rattlesnakes. Prairie rattlers love the sun-warmed rocks. They don't want to bite you, but they will if you step on them while trying to get a selfie.
The best time to be there? Sunrise or sunset.
During the middle of the day, the sun flattens the landscape and makes everything look like a washed-out grey blob. But when the sun is low, the shadows stretch out and the colors—the pinks, the oranges, the deep purples—really pop. It’s a photographer's paradise.
Also, stay on the trails if you aren't an experienced hiker. The ground is crumbly. It’s called "popcorn" soil because it looks like dried kernels. It can give way under your feet, and a tumble down a ravine is a quick way to ruin a vacation.
Actionable Steps for Your Badlands Adventure
If you are ready to stop googling and start driving, here is how you actually do it:
- Pick your state: Go to South Dakota for the classic, massive spires and the National Park experience. Go to North Dakota if you want wild horses and a slightly quieter, greener experience.
- Fly into Rapid City (RAP): If you're going to the South Dakota park, this is your hub. It's an easy 60-minute drive to the park entrance.
- Download offline maps: Cell service is a joke once you get deep into the formations. Use Google Maps' offline feature or bring a physical map.
- Check the fossil rules: If you find a fossil (and you might!), leave it. It’s illegal to remove them. Take a picture, mark your GPS coordinates, and tell a ranger. You could be discovering a new species.
- Visit the Minuteman Missile Site: While you're in the South Dakota Badlands, check out the Cold War silos nearby. It’s a jarring contrast—ancient geology meeting the machinery of modern destruction.
The Badlands aren't just a place on a map; they are a reminder of how much the Earth changes. Whether you're in South Dakota or North Dakota, you're standing on the remains of a world that vanished millions of years ago. It’s humbling. Go see it.