Badlands National Park

We nearly had to pass by Badlands National Park in central South Dakota, but as luck would have it (what does that saying even mean?) we had made the trip out no matter the hell-on-earth-heat that was rolling through South Dakota. Actually, we took numerous trips into the park over the week. The first two trips into the park happened while based out of Wall Drug, and another later in the week as we abandoned Wall Drug for some boondocking in the park boundary itself.

Badlands became my 79th National Park visited (I’ve been on a streak lately) and one I’ve been looking forward too for quite some years. For some reason I had this misconception that the loop road was not paved, and that you could camp anywhere off that road. I was looking forward to that kind of solitude and closeness to the grassland and wildlife that roam there. I have no idea where I got that vision of the park, but it was deeply embedded in my brain. Unfortunately, the reality is that the loop road is very nicely paved and no camping is allowed other than in the designated campgrounds. As luck would have it one of those campgrounds is down a long ribbon of gravel road and the scene for our final two days in the area.

The Eastern side is where the badlands area is as well as the majority of the crowds. What is there to say about badlands? They are badlands, nothing more, nothing less. Pretty in the right light, and ugly if the mood is right. I am pretty indifferent about badlands, neither attracted too or away from them. Anyway, if you are looking for them, they are on the East side of the park.

Sage Creek Campground is not only free, it is out in the middle of no-where-South-Dakota. 12 miles of gravel road gets you there, and it is worth it. The campground is small, and mostly only tent campers come out this far, but man does the place pack in a crowd each night. By mid afternoon cars and even a few RVs start pulling in for an overnight spot. By nightfall there was little room left for anything but tents. Within a few short hours of sunrise, nearly all of them will have left. And this happened on a weekday. I can’t imagine how the weekends must be. It is on this western side of the park that the Buffalo roam, in huge numbers I might add.

It was at Sage Creek Campground that Kerri noticed a tiny little action of mine that prompted her to say, “you are a true Airstreamer now.” Upon arrival we pulled up to a family in a classic Airstream. It wasn’t planned, it just happened to be the best spot for us. Within a few hours they were out enjoying the afternoon breeze so I went out to say hello to our neighbors. We chatted for a few minutes and I returned to Kerri, working hard as usual. It was then she said those infamous words supporting it with the fact that I chose to meet the other Airstream family, not the Class-C RV parked to our opposite side. I admit, I did not feel compelled at all to go say hello to the other RV, just the Airstream. I could have argued that it had more to do with one couple already sitting outside and the other not, but I stayed quiet. I guess I may as well go out and buy a Mac and iPhone… because I’m a proper ‘stuck up’ Airstreamer now.

Dang it, she has fully corrupted me.