Wind Cave & Badlands National Parks, SD

Friday, October 3 – Sunday, Oct 5, 2025

We decided to drive to Wind Cave on Friday, aware that the government shutdown meant the Visitor’s Center and Cave Tours would be closed. The drive was stunning, with breathtaking scenery and sightings of Bison herds and Prairie Dog Towns, though no Elk were spotted. We paused for a photo at the Park entrance before taking an alternate route back to the campgrounds, soaking in the vast open spaces of the area.

Friday, we also baked Lasagna in the Dutch Oven. It turned out great again, enjoying the meal on Friday evening with leftovers on both Saturday and Sunday. With rain in the forecast on Saturday, we decided to forego any travel and stayed in to watch the football games.

We mounted the Starlink on our camera tripod, but when it started raining, we got worried about the surge protector and tripod getting wet. So, we brought it inside and set it up in the skylight of the Airstream. It worked like a charm! We watched all the games without worrying about the weather.

This morning, we relocated to our second campsite at Game Lodge, Site #1, where we’ll stay until Friday, October 10, before heading back home. The sky was heavy with clouds today, but with little chance of rain, we decided to make the 1.5-hour drive to Badlands National Park. After that, we spent another 1-2 hours on the scenic byway, making it an ideal day for the adventure.

The Badlands feels like another world, and we were blown away by the vastness of the landscape. The rock formations are incredibly unique and vibrant, which was an unexpected surprise. We learned that this area was once covered by a sea millions of years ago, and as the water receded, it became home to various animals, including alligators, rhinoceros-like creatures, dog-sized horses, and many other fascinating species. The climate back then resembled Florida’s weather today, creating a perfect environment for these animals. Over the years, fossils of these creatures have been discovered in the Badlands.

There are several scenic overlooks perfect for landscape photos. As we left one, I noticed a lone coyote on the hilltop—unusual in daylight. Ron quickly stepped out and snapped a photo of the still, elusive animal.

The skies were gloomy throughout the day, creating what we thought was the ideal backdrop for the rugged beauty of the Badlands.