As you know, we are on a quest to visit every National Park in the United States (and then maybe we will hit some in Canada as well!). One of the more underrated National Parks is Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
It is East of Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and the Black Hills and is sometimes forgotten. We wanted to share our stay at Badlands / White River Holiday KOA because it is the perfect campground for visiting Badlands National Park….and has everything we look for in a campground near a National Park.
Arrival at Badlands / White River Holiday KOA
Arrival at Badlands / White River Holiday KOA is super easy and simple. There are two main ways to get to the campground but once you turn into the campground you simply pull up to where it tells you to and get out and go into the awesome Welcome Center to check in.
The Welcome Center / Clubhouse and Store had such a friendly staff to greet us when we arrived. We checked in within minutes and had an escort outside waiting to guide us to our site.
We were escorted to our Full Hook up 50 amp campsite and pulled right in. After checking to make sure we had everything we needed, the escort drove off and let us do what we needed to do to get set up.
The site we had was level and fit the RV perfectly. We did have to park the truck in the overflow spot located just across from our site, so it was not a big deal, it was almost like we had our own personal parking spot.
The water pressure was great and the sewer was easy to hook up to. The sites were not too close together.
More Than RV Sites
One thing that we thought was awesome was all of the different ways that you could stay at this KOA!
There were:
- Deluxe Cabins (Full bath and/or shower and patio)
- Camping PODs (full bath and patio / firepit) – these were our absolute favorite!
- Yurt / Tent Cabin – they only have one of these and it was occupied so we couldn’t see inside
- Camping Camping with no bath – these were very rustic and like tent camping, but in a cabin!
Attractions / Activities For Kids
One thing we look for in a campground is attractions and activities for the girls to do. They absolutely love visiting National Parks and earning their Junior Ranger badges, but they also love coming back to the campground and playing on the playground or swimming in the pool or checking out whatever other activities the campground has.
Playground
The girls loved the playground. Every playground we go to is different and offers different playsets, rockers, swing sets, etc. One thing they loved about this playground was the wooden horses that they could sit on and pretend to be riding a horse!
The pool was a perfect size for the campground. We had a great pool day one day after coming back from the 10 minute drive from Badlands National Park. There were other campers at the pool and we still had plenty of space for swimming and jumping in and making memories!
I have always been a fan of horseshoes and bean bag toss. I always tries to get in a game with myself if there’s no one to play along with. The girls like to play bean bag toss also, but of course we bend the rules just a little bit so they can actually reach!
Mini Golf
There was a well maintained mini golf course. We have been to a lot of campgrounds that had mini golf courses and they couldn’t even be used because they were in horrible condition, but this was not the case here.
BINGO
If there is candy bar bingo on the activity schedule, you can best believe we will be there!! We won several games also, so we came with 4 candy bars and left with about 7-8 different types of candy.
Free Pancake Breakfast
When we checked in, we received tickets for 2 free pancakes from the on-site restaurant for each of us. On our last day we cashed the tickets in for 8 free pancakes!!! The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner each night. We didn’t have a chance to have dinner there, but we did see the food that others had and it looked great!
More Than Just the Badlands
The Badlands / White River Holiday KOA is a great location for not just the Badlands but also to visit the famous Wall Drug in Wall, SD. If you have never heard of Wall Drug, then I recommend adding it to your must see list, especially if you are visiting Badlands National Park.
On your way to Wall Drug, you will see billboards everywhere along the Interstate! You will know that you are near the exit when you see the giant dinosaur on the side of the highway.
Once inside, you’ll find a sprawling complex filled with an eclectic array of shops, restaurants, and attractions. From cowboy boots and Western-themed souvenirs to homemade donuts and ice-cold drinks, Wall Drug offers something for everyone. Its charming old-fashioned atmosphere and friendly staff add to the allure, making it a must-visit destination for those passing through South Dakota.
If you are planning on visiting Badlands National Park, then head over to the Badlands White River Holiday KOA website now and book your site!