Badlands loop scenic byway

The times I've been there the roads are paved and in very good condition. No problem at all with your rigs, or larger for that matter. Many pullouts to stop and look around or hike if you want. Enjoy!

No problem. Enjoy the drive.

TNRIVERSIDE wrote:
Planing a trip to Custer State Park. On the way we are hoping to travel the Badlands Scenic byway, hwy 240. I'm wandering if the road is passable / recomendable to pull a travel Trailer. The couple traveling with us has a 32' TT. Our TT is only 21'. Hope someone that has traveled this road can give us a comment or two.

We did it with our 33 TT last summer. Lots of places to pull over and stop. That park is well suited for the 'drive thru' with the trailer in tow.

The visitor center is on the East end of the park. Plan to spend some time there if you are traveling West to East. Lots of cool exhibits.

Yes, what all the others have stated. You will enjoy it. You may even want to plan an overnight rest stop at the campground next to the visitors center. Very basic but most of the sites now have electricity.

3oaks wrote:
Yes, what all the others have stated. You will enjoy it. You may even want to plan an overnight rest stop at the campground next to the visitors center. Very basic but most of the sites now have electricity.

I did not see a campground next to the visitor center on the map. Could you tell me the name and I'll look it up. Thanks

Correction. I do see a state recreational area called Mina Lake State Recerstional Area with a campground.

If you don't have a National Parks Senior Pass and qualify, get one at the gate and save on the entrance fee. There is an electric only campground on the loop. I bought the pass a few years ago and got in free. Then stayed the night in the park as we were headed back east to home. This pass got us into the Devils Tower Nat. Park for free this past summer.

or take the Graylines bus tour and gain the advantage of those who really know the area.

We are 65' with toad and had no problems at all....Well worth the trip..be sure to stop and do the short hikes..they are interesting. Lots of places to stop and view and picnic. Cedar Pass is the only campground within the park. Elec only for about $30 night....Dennis

As John&Bet said, you will be charged a fee if you don't have a pass because the byway runs through a National Park. The byway is paved, but you might want to also takes Sage Creek Road (590) that runs from the byway to the. West end of the park. It is gravel, but a good road. Being less travelled, this is where we saw ALL the wildlife - bison, bighorn sheep, antelope. The only wildlife we saw on the actual designated byway was the prairie dogs, although I'm sure others have sometimes seen all the wildlife species on the byway.

You may want to also visit the minuteman missile site just outside the park as well. Exit 131 off of the interstate.

Mina Lake is not the CG in Badlands NP. Here is the link to the park's campground: Cedar Pass CG

There is also a very decent KOA a few miles south of the park (Interior, SD). It's shadier and has more amenities than the park CG, though of course it's less convenient.