Unearth the long-buried past in Badlands National Park, a place like no other. This strange, alien landscape of rocky peaks hides tens of millions of years of history. Learn all about it as you explore with this self-guided driving tour, which takes you along the Badlands Wall and shows you the best overlooks, hiking trails, and more.

The tour of Badlands National Park begins in the town of Wall (if it’s more convenient, you can also begin the tour from the town of Philip). From there, you’ll head south into the park itself. Once you enter the park, you’ll have the option to take a quick detour to see a prairie dog colony at Roberts Prairie Dog Town. It’s a pretty uncommon sight, and highly recommend for any animal lovers.

Then there’s Ancient Hunters Overlook, where the ancestors of the Lakota community once butchered bison they had killed in their hunts. As you drive, you’ll hear lots more about the former local hunters and their prey. Then you’ll arrive at Yellow Mounds Overlook, which really outdoes its unappealing name by revealing millions of years of geologic history.

Finally, you’ll arrive at Big Badlands Overlook. This one really earns its name and offers one of the best views in the entire park. Your tour concludes here.

Explore a landscape like no other and find out how it was formed
Spot bison, pronghorns, and bighorn sheep
Learn about the Lakota people who once lived here
Watch a once-in-a-lifetime sunset over the Badlands’ rocky peaks
Uncover the prehistoric secrets of the Badlands’ many fossils

Important to know

Know in advance:

Please note that this tour is an audio tour guide, and not an attraction entrance ticket
This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The tour operator's app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Please don't wait until you are on-site
Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
You can use the self-guided tour for one year. It is Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

Audio-guided tour
Audio guide

Food and drinks
Transportation

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

1101 Glenn St, Wall, SD 57790, USA

Meeting point:

This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. It begins at the GPS-marked starting point in Wall or Philip. Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good data/wifi. From there, simply follow the audio instructions and the route.