First timer in badlands

Be sure to attend the night star show by the ranger.


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We have been through the badlands many times in the last 20+ years. Our last trip was pretty memorable. The wife is quite adamant that the "Chicken Fried Steak" we had, at the Cowboy Corner, in Interior, was the worst meal she has ever eaten, LOL. We didn't make plans, so the park's CG was full as was the KOA. We stayed at Badlands Interior motel and campground. It was pretty rough, tons of mosquitoes, and nothing special.

When it comes to CG recommendations, we really like the KOA, one of the few places with grass, shade and trees in the badlands. If you venture up to Wall, Sleepy Hollow is a real nice place. I can't say the same for the Arrow CG, which is right down the block. We typically stop at the Red Rock restaurant for a Buffalo burger when we are in town. The Wounded Knee Museum is also well worth the trip. If You're heading west to the Black Hills from the Badlands, think about staying on rt 44, instead of rt 90, it's one heck of a scenic ride. Have fun.

I decline to discuss stickdog's palate! Seriously, I have run into campground water where I could taste something...different. Not unsafe, just didn't fill up. I like to be able to stop anywhere and with my almost 50 gallons of water I can plus stay a while.

We are fulltimers and never have more than 1/3 tank of water as we travel. I know many worry about the quality of water or the taste, we haven't found that to be the case. We use nothing other than the charcoal filters from camco. I guess our palates are not that refined.

Fill upon arrival instead of water you are happy with at home? What if you find a dry/boondocking gem...but can't...no water. What if you don't like the taste of the camp's water or 20 minutes before you arrive the camp water system breaks down? If your payload is that close, I guess.

When in the west, it's always good to travel with water.

we stayed at the campground last September and found it tolerable but nothing special. Clean bathrooms/showers, elec hookups and yes, you can take on water first thing if you want.
the gift shop/cafe is staffed with native americans and has some very nice stuff and the cafe offers (among other things) a really great indian taco big enough to feed two people.
at the east exit, on the north side of I 90, is a Museum of the Minute Man system of defense and it is very good if you are interested in the cold war era.

I'm not a fan of KOA campground but there is a nice little one just outside the park entrance which is convenient. Also there is a cool hike that scrambles up to the prairie above which is pretty near. Wall Drug is not to far away either. Not sure about the water as we always stayed at the KOA, it would be neat to stay in the park and catch the sunrise and sunset though.

If you arent leaving right away go to the SD travel website,
www.travelsouthdakota.com
You can also order the states travel planner. Tons of information there.