Can you reserve a site at Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site?

No. Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site

Facility · North Dakota ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Little Missouri National Grassland (NF) · Open Access

2,782 ft
Elevation

A 1,220-acre site featuring interesting archeological, paleontological, wildlife, and geologic resources.

It is the site of the Battle of the Badlands, fought between the United States cavalry led by General Alfred Sully, and a coalition of the Lakota and Dakota Sioux native American tribes. The battle was fought on August 7-9, 1864.

In addition to a Battle of the Badlands interpretive site, the site also contains portions of the 1864 and 1876 military trails, and the 1876 Snow Camp of the Custer Expedition to the Little Bighorn battle.

It is contiguous with the Square Buttes SIA. The area also contains several uncommon plant species.

Getting there

46.87180, -103.67828 · 46°52'18.5"N 103°40'41.8"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 86°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	28	32	44	56	67	77	86	85	74	58	42	31
Low °F	3	8	18	30	41	50	56	53	43	30	18	7
Precip in	0.3	0.4	0.6	1.6	2.6	2.9	2.1	1.4	1.4	1.2	0.6	0.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 7.8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site

Can you reserve a site at Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site?: No. Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Battle of the Badlands Interpretive Site

Buffalo Gap Campground (ND) 5.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cottonwood Campground (ND) 8.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cottonwood Group Site (ND) 9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Roundup Group Horse Camp 12.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Little Missouri National Grassland 7.8 mi · Facility
South Unit Visitor Center 7.8 mi · Facility
Initial Rock 13.4 mi · Facility
Wannagan Campground 13.4 mi · Campground
Painted Canyon Visitor Center 14.1 mi · Facility
Burning Coal Vein Campground 22 mi · Campground
Elkhorn Campground 24.6 mi · Campground
Whitetail Picnic Area 28.6 mi · Campground

Comments

Contact

Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.