Unearth the long-buried past in Badlands National Park with this self-guided driving audio tour. Explore the alien landscape and learn about fossils, history, and more!
Unearth the long-buried past in Badlands National Park with this self-guided driving audio tour. Explore the alien landscape and learn about fossils, history, and more!
-
Hay Butte Overlook - This overlook offers stunning views of the Badlands and prairie meadows. It’s an excellent spot to observe bison, pronghorn, and the park’s diverse landscapes. Located just a short hike from the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route.
Note: The tour spans over 34 miles, includes more than 32 audio stories, and takes…
- Hay Butte Overlook - This overlook offers stunning views of the Badlands and prairie meadows. It’s an excellent spot to observe bison, pronghorn, and the park’s diverse landscapes. Located just a short hike from the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route.
Note: The tour spans over 34 miles, includes more than 32 audio stories, and takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
Enjoy new, lifetime access with no expiration. Use it anytime, on any trip, as often as you like.
- Badlands Wilderness Overlook - Renowned for its distinctive landscapes, including rugged rock formations and deep canyons. This wilderness area hosts a variety of plant and animal life, such as bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. It’s a favored spot for hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, and photography.
- Roberts Prairie Dog Town - Home to numerous black-tailed prairie dogs. These burrowing rodents from the Great Plains of North America are famous for their “bark” and behavior. Visitors enjoy observing these intriguing animals in their natural environment at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
- Ancient Hunters Overlook - Named after the ancient tribes that hunted in the Badlands. This site has revealed bison bones and arrowheads, suggesting it was a butchering field where hunters processed bison carcasses.
- Yellow Mounds Overlook - Features unique layered rock formations. The presence of iron oxide in the rock layers gives the Yellow Mounds their distinctive color. These formations provide a unique glimpse into the Badlands’ landscapes shaped by millions of years of erosion and weathering.
- Big Badlands Overlook - Offers another spectacular view of the park’s yellow paleosols, providing insight into the land’s ancient history. This area was once the bed of a warm, shallow sea. The paleosols visible here are part of the lowest formation in the Badlands: the Pierre Shale.
- Homestead Overlook - Lincoln believed the American West held the resources needed for the country. Few Americans were willing to settle there. West Coast Natives were cautious of settlers in the unexplored region. Thus, Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, requiring settlers to live on and improve the land.
- Prairie Wind Overlook - Unlike previous overlooks, the main attraction here is the gentle, pleasant prairie rather than the badlands. It exemplifies the park’s surprisingly diverse ecosystems.
- White River Valley Overlook - From this vantage point, you can see The Castle, a magnificent formation and the largest visible from the overlook. Beyond The Castle, the White River Valley stretches endlessly. The White River carved this valley long ago, as its name suggests.
- Fossil Exhibit Trail - This trail features interactive exhibits showcasing the park’s fossil heritage, including ancient animal fossils. The wheelchair-accessible trail is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Visitors can learn about extinct animals like the rhinoceros and three-toed horse and their environment along the trail.
- Saddle Pass Trail - This 0.7-mile trail takes less than half an hour to hike and offers excellent opportunities for bird watching and sightseeing. Despite its short length, it is one of the steepest in the park, with over 200 feet of elevation gain. Avoid this trail if it has rained recently.
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center - A perfect spot for a quick break during your Badlands expedition. In addition to a picnic area and standard amenities, it features the Fossil Preparation Lab, where you can see what paleontologists do with fossils after discovering them.
- Cliff Shelf Nature Trail - This half-mile loop offers one of the park’s best views. Besides the stunning vista from the top of the loop, you can explore one of the Badlands’ lesser-known biomes by walking through a lush juniper forest.
- Notch Trail - The Notch Trail offers 1.5 miles of challenging terrain for intermediate hikers, including a rope ladder leading to a breathtaking view of the White River Valley. Hikers seeking challenging terrain and spectacular views will enjoy this trail.
- Door Trail - This quarter-mile, fully accessible boardwalk is more of a stroll than a hike. It leads to a break in the Badlands Wall, known as The Door, offering unbeatable views of the landscape beyond. Don’t forget your camera for this one!
- Castle Trail - Finally, there’s The Castle. At 5.4 miles, it’s the longest-maintained trail in the park. It winds through prairie, Badlands peaks, and various unique formations. This trail is an excellent choice for those wanting to explore all the different features of the Badlands.

- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS…
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
Discover the ancient history hidden within Badlands National Park, a truly unique destination! This extraordinary, otherworldly terrain of rugged peaks conceals millions of years of history. Delve into its secrets with a self-guided driving tour that leads you along the Badlands Wall, highlighting the best viewpoints, hiking paths, and more. Throughout…
Discover the ancient history hidden within Badlands National Park, a truly unique destination! This extraordinary, otherworldly terrain of rugged peaks conceals millions of years of history. Delve into its secrets with a self-guided driving tour that leads you along the Badlands Wall, highlighting the best viewpoints, hiking paths, and more. Throughout your journey, a virtual narrator will captivate you with intriguing tales about everything from fossils to Lakota heritage and beyond.
After booking, be sure to check your email or text messages to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio directions and route from the specified starting point.
Enjoy new, lifetime access with no expiration. Use it anytime, on any trip, as often as you like.
Please note, this is not an entrance ticket. Verify opening hours before your visit.
- Please note that a standard entrance pass is required for Badlands National Park. It’s valid for 7 consecutive days per vehicle and is not included with the tour.
- Download the audio tour before arriving, as cell service in Badlands National Park is limited and may not support downloading.
- The park remains open during winter, but some facilities and services may operate with reduced hours or close seasonally.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
- The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.