Badlands: Self-Guided Audio Drive, Scenic Hikes & Wildlife

Drive through Badlands wildness at your own pace with audio stories and hidden prairie views

You’ll set your own pace driving through Badlands with an audio tour guiding you to wildlife spots, fossil trails, and those layered rock overlooks. Expect quiet moments alone with the landscape (and maybe some curious prairie dogs), plus easy offline maps and lifetime access so you can revisit whenever you want.

What’s included

• Your day includes lifetime access to a GPS-triggered self-guided audio tour through your own phone and car—no extra fees per person. You get planning tools like route maps and previews of scenic stops.
• support is available by chat or phone if needed. Download everything ahead of time so it works offline even where cell service drops out. Start anytime from any point on the route.
• pause for hikes or picnics whenever you want—it’s all flexible for your group.

Traveler reviews

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Badlands National Park highlights

• Start at Badlands Loop Road overlook
• Observe bison and pronghorn wildlife
• Visit Roberts Prairie Dog Town
• See ancient bison bones and arrowheads site
• View Yellow Mounds rock formations
• Enjoy paleosols at Pierre Shale overlook
• Learn about Homestead Act history
• Explore diverse prairie ecosystem overlook
• View The Castle formation and White River Valley
• Walk wheelchair-accessible fossil heritage trail
• Hike steep 0.7-mile trail for bird watching
• Rest at picnic area and Fossil Preparation Lab
• Hike half-mile loop through juniper forest
• Challenge yourself on Notch Trail with rope ladder
• Stroll accessible boardwalk to The Door gap
• Hike The Castle 5.4-mile trail through varied terrain

The Experience

I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to feel so small in the Badlands. We started early, coffee still warm in the cup holder, and right away that jagged horizon just kind of swallowed us up. The app chimed in as we drove along the Loop Road, telling stories about ancient seas and Lakota hunters. Sometimes I’d pause it just to listen to the wind—there’s this dry, grassy smell out there, sharp and sweet at once. We pulled over for a herd of bison crossing, their hooves kicking up dust. No rush; nobody honked.

The audio tour was actually pretty easy to use (even for someone like me who usually fights with apps). It picked up our location each time we stopped or wandered off on a trail—like at Roberts Prairie Dog Town. I laughed when my partner tried imitating their little “bark” noises; a couple of prairie dogs actually popped up as if to judge us. Later on one of those short hikes (the Notch Trail?), my shoes came back caked in yellow dust from the mounds—hadn’t realized how soft that stuff gets after rain. The sun kept shifting behind clouds so sometimes everything looked washed out, then suddenly gold again.

We didn’t see many other cars—just a few families at overlooks or folks with big camera lenses waiting for pronghorns. There’s this picnic spot near a fossil lab where we ate sandwiches from the cooler and watched some paleontologists scraping away at old bones behind glass. I still think about that view over White River Valley—how it just goes on forever, layers on layers like some weird cake only nature could bake. We ended up looping back later just because we could; no schedule breathing down our necks.

Top questions

How long does the Badlands self-guided audio tour take?

The full route covers over 34 miles and takes about 1-2 hours to complete by car, not counting stops for hikes or photos.

Can I use the audio tour offline in Badlands?

Yes, once downloaded via WiFi or mobile data before arrival, the tour works offline using GPS guidance throughout Badlands.

Is entry to Badlands included with this tour?

No, you need a separate entrance pass for Badlands; it’s not included with the audio tour purchase.

Does this self-guided tour include hiking recommendations?

Yes, the audio guide points out popular hiking trails along the route like Notch Trail and Fossil Exhibit Trail.

Can more than one person use the app during our trip?

Yes, one purchase covers everyone in your vehicle for unlimited use during your trip or future visits.

Are there wildlife viewing spots on this drive?

Yes, you’ll pass overlooks for bison herds, pronghorns, prairie dogs at Roberts Prairie Dog Town, and more along the way.

What do I need to bring for this self-guided drive?

You just need your car and phone; download the app before arriving due to limited cell service in Badlands.