Badlands National Park is a designated Federal Recreation Fee Area. Fees collected directly benefit the park and the National Park Service. Under the 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, 80% of the fees remain in the park for use on approved projects. The remaining 20% funds projects in other National Park Service sites.

Fee projects at Badlands National Park have included:

• Support for the bighorn sheep and black-footed ferret reintroduction projects, prairie restoration, a modern fire station for structural and wildland fire teams, fencing crews, and modernization of the bison corrals
• Exhibits in the recently rehabilitated Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the new park movie, a new museum storage facility that houses park collections, and support for the Badlands in Your Classroom education outreach program
• Installation of vault toilets at the Door/Window Trail, Fossil Exhibit Trail, and Pinnacles Overlook
• Replacement of the ladder on the Notch Trail
• Upgraded comfort stations in the Cedar Pass Campground

ENTRANCE FEES 

Private, non-commercial vehicle
$15 - Valid for 7 days

Individual - hike, bicycle
$7 - Valid for 7 days

Motorcycle
$10 - Valid for 7 days

Badlands National Park Annual Pass
$30 - Valid for one year from month of purchase

Details
Admits the purchaser and their passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle or the passholder and their companions when entry is by other means (i.e. foot, bicycle). Nontransferable, nonrefundable, and does not cover camping fees.

Organized, non-commercial groups (i.e. service organizations, scouts, church groups, and college/school clubs)
$7 per person - Valid for 7 days

COMMERCIAL TOUR FEES

Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity
$25 plus $7 per person - 7 days for Original Manifest

Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity
$50 - 7 days for Original Manifest

Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity
$60 - 7 days for Original Manifest

Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity
$150 - 7 days for Original Manifest

INTERAGENCY PASS PROGRAM
The following passes are available at Badlands National Park:

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - Annual Pass
$80 - Valid for one year from month of purchase

Details
This nontransferable annual pass covers the entrance or standard amenity fees at sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It does not cover camping fees, parking fees, user fees (i.e. cave tours), concession activities, or cooperating association bookstore charges.

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass -  Senior Pass
$10 - Valid for holder's lifetime

Details
One time charge for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years or older. This nontransferable pass allows lifetime entrance to all National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife areas. It also entitles the bearer to a 50% discount on camping fees in many federal campgrounds. It cannot be used at concession facilities or cooperating association bookstores. Identification must be provided at the time of purchase.

America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - Access Pass
Free - Valid for holder's lifetime

Details
This nontransferable pass allows lifetime entrance to all National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife areas to United States citizens or permanent residents who are blind or permanently disabled. It also entitles the bearer to a 50% discount on camping fees in many federal campgrounds. It cannot be used at concession facilities or cooperating association bookstores.

EDUCATIONAL FEE WAIVERS
Entrance fee waivers are available to academic institutions when the main purpose of their visit is educational rather than recreational. Feel free to complete and submit an Application for Waiver of Fees (96 KB PDF), if your group meets the eligibility criteria. For further information on fee waivers or eligibility criteria, feel free to contact the Revenue and Fee Business Program Manager.