NPS Photo/ L. Bowers 
NPS Photo Drive Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240)Most visitors to Badlands National Park drive the Loop Road as part of their visit. Whether you get out at every overlook on the Loop Road or enjoy the views from the comfort of your car, you're sure to see some amazing vistas on this drive! This two-lane paved road is appropriate for all motor vehicles but does include several steep passes and sections with reduced speed limits. 
NPS Photo Drive Sage Creek Rim RoadSage Creek Rim Road (SD 590) is a dirt/gravel road that travels through the Sage Creek Wilderness Area of Badlands National Park. It provides access to several overlooks and the Sage Creek Campground, as well as opportunities for backcountry access and wildlife viewing. Bison, bighorn, prairie dogs and a wide variety of birds are frequently seen from Sage Creek Rim Road. 
NPS Photo Drive Around the South Unit of the BadlandsThe South Unit is a beautiful part of Badlands National Park, and this drive around its perimeter offers spectacular sights. Whether you're headed east or west, the South Unit is worth seeing! If you’d like to enjoy views of the South Unit from the comfort of your car, consider driving the roads around the South Unit! Unlike the North Unit, there are no roads that cut through the South Unit—the only access into the South Unit is by driving Sheep Mountain Table or backcountry hiking. 
NPS Photo Explore Sheep Mountain TableSheep Mountain Table is located on the border of the North and South Unit of Badlands National Park. Sheep Mountain Table Road is a dirt road that should not be driven during or after storms. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, even in dry conditions. This road begins on the west side of SD Hwy 27, 4.5 miles south of SD Hwy 44 at the town of Scenic. |
Last updated: December 21, 2025