The Cedar Pass Lodge is located in the boundaries of Badlands National Park in Southwestern South Dakota.
The lodge is located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and offers cabins, a full-service restaurant, and a gift shop.
Cedar Pass Lodge
Cedar Pass Lodge was built in 1926 by Ben Millard.
The lodge has served as a welcome space for visitors to the Badlands to relax, get supplies, and take a break.
New cabins were placed at Cedar Pass Lodge in 2013. The cabins are lined with beetle kill pine from the Black Hills and outfitted with handmade lodge pole pine furnishings.
Lakota Lamp, Energy Star appliances include a refrigerator, 32-inch TV, coffee maker, and bamboo towels.
The cabins feature Adirondack chairs to relax in on the deck overlooking Badlands National Park. Cabin guests are provided 1 bag of ice during their stay complimentary.
The Cedar Pass Cabins is the only lodging in Badlands National Park.
The Badlands Inn is located just outside of the park boundaries. The cabins are quite popular, especially in the summer. Reservations are highly recommended.
Badlands National Park Entrance fee
Private Vehicle: $30
Motorcycle: $25
Per Person: $15
There is an entrance fee to enter Badlands National Park. Fees are listed below or you can choose to purchase your pass in advance through the link below.
The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and for up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.
Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Park Ranger John Notes
The name strikes me as out of place because there is no lodge, it's more like Badlands National Park Cabins with a Restaurant, gift shop, and convenience store.
What I loved most was the fact that you have all the modern amenities of your home while you are in the heart of the park's attractions/activities.
You can do anything from taking a short walk on the Door Trail and Window Trail to watching paleontologists at the fossil preparation lab.
Did I mention the wildlife in the area? I saw lots of bighorn sheep, bison, prairie dogs, and wild turkeys. Then there's the unbelievable EPIC views of the Badlands!
I am also impressed that these eco-friendly cabins meet Gold LEED standards! This really shows extraordinary leadership in sustainable building practices.
TripAdvisor had Cedar Pass Lodge ranked at 4.5 of 5 stars!
Lodge Information
- Operating Season: Cedar Pass Lodge is normally open from mid-April through mid-October depending on the weather. 2023 dates were 4/21/23 through 10/23/2023
- ADA Rooms Available: Yes
- Phone Number: (855)765-0737
- Online Reservations: Make online Reservations for Cedar Pass Lodge
- Address: Cedar Pass Lodge 20681 South Dakota Highway 240 Interior, SD. 57750
- Check-In Time: 4:00 pm
- Check-Out Time: 11:00 am
- Nearest Airport: Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is the closest major airport, located just 55 miles from Badlands National Park. Airlines serving Rapid City include Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, and United.
- Deposit: First-night stay plus tax are due at the time of booking.
- Cancellation Policy: Cancellations or modifications made more than 48 hours prior to arrival by 4:00 pm MST will be assessed a $10 fee. Cancellations within 48 hours of your arrival will result in a loss of your deposit.
- Pet Policy: NO PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE CABINS. A non-refundable fee of $250.00 will be assessed if there is evidence that a pet stayed in the room.
- Extra Person Policy: All room rates are based on double occupancy. An additional person charge of $10 applies for extra persons aged 15 years and older.
Cedar Pass Lodge Cabins Room Types
- King Bed Duplex Cabin
- ADA Cabins
- 2 Queen Bed Cabins
- 2 Queen Bed + Futon Cabins
Cedar Pass Cabin Amenities
- Custom-made regionally handcrafted Lodgepole Pine furniture
- Vaulted Ceiling
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Air conditioning and heat
- Ceiling Fan
- Table and chairs
- Mini Refrigerator with freezer
- TV with Satellite
- Porch with deck chairs
- The Cedar Pass Cabins are within walking distance of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and the park's amphitheater. This is a great location to be able to attend a ranger night sky program.
- Incredible views of the Badlands!
Sioux Indian Taco at Cedar Pass Restaurant
Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant and gift shop/convenience store
Cedar Pass Restaurant proudly serves local and sustainably sourced regional dishes.
The dishes range from buffalo salad, Tatanka dogs, steaks, salmon, hearty beef and buffalo burgers, Sioux Indian Tacos, fresh soup and salad bar, and a selection of South Dakota wines and beers.
There is a gift shop and a convenience store located next to the Cedar Pass restaurant.
You can find sundries and camping supplies along with Native American pottery, art, and jewelry. They also carry great souvenirs from Badlands National Park.
The restaurant and gift store is open to all park visitors. The parking lot is large enough to accommodate big RV's.
Store hours - 8 am to 7 pm
Restaurant hours: Open April-October
Breakfast: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Lunch: 11:00 am- 6:00 pm
Cedar Pass Area Attractions, nearby attractions to Cedar Pass Lodge
The Cedar Pass Lodge is the perfect place to stay as it provides easy access to numerous of the park's attractions and activities!
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center
- Badlands Loop Road (Scenic Drive)
- Cedar Pass Campground and amphitheater (Evening Ranger Programs)
- Door Trail
- Notch Trail
- Medicine Root Trailhead
- Big Badlands Overlook
- Saddle Pass Trailhead
- Toadstool Rock
- Fossil Exhibit Trailhead
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
For a fun adventure, check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built-in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando
Guided Tours
There are a couple of really cool guided tours available in Badlands Natl Park.
Badlands NP Private Tour - Enjoy a private tour of the park and stop at famous features including a stop at Wall, South Dakota. Learn about the history of the area and spend the day discovering the rare geology of the Badlands.
Badlands Tour with Minuteman Missile NHS - Travel to Badlands National Park and explore this spectacular terrain on a full-day guided tour. Catch a glimpse of America's nuclear arsenal during the Cold War and learn about its history with your expert guide.
Badlands Bike Tour with Lunch - Join a bike tour of Badlands National Park. Cycle around the park and learn its history from your experienced guide. Admire the spectacular scenery and wildlife as you pedal.
Additional Lodging near the park
Best Western Plains Motel - Free continental breakfast, an arcade/game room, and a gym are just a few of the amenities provided at Best Western Plains Motel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a business center, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Econo Lodge Wall - free to-go breakfast and more. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Super 8 by Wyndham Wall - free to-go breakfast and a business center. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
America's Best Value Inn Wall - free continental breakfast, a free daily manager's reception, and laundry facilities. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a bar and a gym.
Days Inn by Wyndham Wall - free to-go breakfast, laundry facilities, and a gym at Days Inn by Wyndham Wall. Free in-room Wi-Fi and conference space are available to all guests.
Click on the map below to see additional vacation rental and lodging options near the park.
Additional Badlands National Park Articles
Badlands National Park Guide - Your complete guide to planning a trip to Badlands National Park
Badlands Inn - You guide to the closest lodge outside Badlands National Park
Badlands NP Hiking Guide - Your guide to the park's most popular trails including the Notch Trail, Fossil Exhibit Trail, Castle Trail, and Window Trail
Things to do in Badlands NP - Make sure to see all the parks attractions and highlights
Badlands National Park Camping Guide Complete the camping guide to Badlands National Park including Sage Creek Campground and Cedar Pass Campground
History of Badlands National Park
National Park Sites near Badlands NP
There are several National Park Sites located in the Black Hills of South Dakota making it one of the best All-American Road Trips in America! Listed below are other parks to visit and camping options:
Wind Cave National Park - America's first National Park set aside specifically for protecting a cave
Custer State Park - Consistently listed as one of America's top 10 State Parks!
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Devils Tower National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Check out all of the South Dakota National Parks along with neighboring North Dakota National Parks, Montana National Parks, and National Parks in Minnesota
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