The only lodging, gift store, and restaurant in Badlands National Park is at Cedar Pass Lodge (20681 Hwy. 240, 605/433-5460 or 877/386-4383, www.cedarpasslodge.com, mid-Apr.–mid-Oct., closed in off-season, $85–100). The facility opened in 1928 and its age is starting to show. The cabins are very rustic and there are no phones or televisions (but cabins are air-conditioned). Situated close to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, it’s a very short walk to the summer evening astronomy programs put on by the park rangers. If you’re looking to experience a park sunrise or sunset, this is a good location to do so.

The Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant (20681 Hwy. 240, 605/433-5460, www.cedarpasslodge.com, Apr. daily 8 a.m.–4 p.m., May daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m., June–mid-Oct. daily 8 a.m.–9 p.m., closed in off-season, breakfast $7, lunch $8, dinner $12) features, for the most part, fairly standard American dining: oatmeal and egg dishes for breakfast, sandwiches and soups for lunch, and steak and chicken for dinner. There are also Indian tacos (Indian fry bread with taco toppings) and chili, both of which are recommended. The decor is plain, but not much is needed since the dining room has large windows that overlook the Badlands.

The campground, lodge, gift shop, and restaurant are all run by concessionaire Forever Lodging (www.foreverlodging.com, 877/386-4383).

Cedar Pass Campground (20681 Hwy. 240, 605/433-5460 or 877/386-4383, www.cedarpasslodge.com, open year-round, $14) is located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and has cold running water, flush toilets, and picnic tables. There are no hot showers and no electrical hookups. The 96 sites are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Campfires are not allowed.

The Sage Creek Wilderness Campground offers primitive camping facilities year-round. There are picnic tables and pit toilets. Pack in water, though, because none is available at this location. The price is definitely right, as camping here is free.

There is limited lodging available in the small town of Interior, South Dakota, which is located just outside of the southern entrance to the North Unit. The Circle View Guest Ranch (20055 E. Hwy. 44, 605/433-5582, www.circleviewranch.com, open year-round, $115) is a working cattle ranch situated on 3,000 acres just six miles west of the park headquarters. The ranch is a bed-and-breakfast and provides guests with a full breakfast, wireless Internet, a fully equipped shared kitchen, private baths, and a game room with foosball, ping pong, and a collection of games. The eight rooms are Western in decor, with colorful quilts and wood furniture. The owners of the ranch are happy to set guests up with horseback-riding excursions along the edge of the Badlands. For $50, guests can experience a 1.5-hour private ride. There are never more than five people on a ride, and frequently it will be just you and a cowboy! This is a working ranch in relatively conservative South Dakota, so be forewarned that prairie dog hunting is one of the activities on offer.

The 18-room Badlands Inn (20615 Hwy. 377, 605/433-5401 or 877/386-4383, open June–Sept., closed in off-season, $95) is located about 1.5 miles outside of the park boundary in the town of Interior. The inn is run by the same people who run the Cedar Pass Lodge. The rooms are double queens and are very basic, with no phones. There is television, a coffee pot, and air conditioning. To check in here, it is necessary to go to the Cedar Pass Lodge and then drive back to the inn. The property is considered a backup to the cabins at Cedar Pass, which are booked first.