Badlands National Park is a popular destination for many reasons. The unique landscape is unlike any other in the world and the views are breathtaking. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bison, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, and horseback riding in the park.
Badlands National Park had the most visitors of any other National Park in 2021. A total of 1.2 million people visited the park last year, which is a 26 percent increase from 2019. The temporary decrease in annual visits in 2020 was due to the park being shutdown at the start of the global pandemic. The expected total count of visitors in 2022 will be approximately 1.3 million visitors. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Death Valley National Park are the two National Parks with similar annual visitor counts.
Annual Visitor Counts for Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is popular because of its unique geology and landscapes. The park has the largest collection of petrified wood in the world and is home to the world's richest fossil beds. The park also has a variety of wildlife, including bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets.
| Year | Count of Visitors |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,224,226 |
| 2020 | 916,932 |
| 2019 | 970,998 |
| 2018 | 1,008,942 |
| 2017 | 1,054,325 |
| 2016 | 996,263 |
| 2015 | 989,354 |
| 2014 | 868,094 |
| 2013 | 892,372 |
| 2012 | 883,406 |
| 2011 | 870,741 |
| 2010 | 977,778 |
| 2009 | 933,918 |
| 2008 | 845,734 |
| 2007 | 886,654 |
| 2006 | 840,118 |
| 2005 | 909,146 |
| 2004 | 936,030 |
| 2003 | 871,034 |
| 2002 | 908,898 |
| 2001 | 955,469 |
| 2000 | 1,105,824 |
| 1999 | 950,453 |
| 1998 | 1,021,049 |
| 1997 | 970,696 |
| 1996 | 1,024,705 |
| 1995 | 1,075,569 |
| 1994 | 1,130,459 |
| 1993 | 1,179,458 |
| 1992 | 1,205,297 |
How many people visited Badlands National Park last year?
In 2021 there was a total of 1.2 million visitors to Badlands National Park.