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    Home » Travel » US National Parks

    Published: Nov 12, 2023 · Updated: Jan 23, 2026 by JohnTillison · This post may contain affiliate links

    Stay in the Eco-Friendly Cabins at Cedar Pass Lodge, Badlands Hidden Gem Since 1926

    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 at Badlands National Park in South Dakota

    TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
    🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
    📍Tours
    🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

    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.

    The Cedar Pass Lodge has cabins for rent, along with a Restaurant, gift shop, and convenience store.

    What I love most is 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!

    Cabin 125 at Cedar Pass Lodge Badlands National Park
    Cabin 125 at Cedar Pass Lodge

    Cedar Pass Lodge Cabins Room Types

    • King Bed Duplex Cabin
    • ADA Cabins
    • 2 Queen Bed Cabins
    • 2 Queen Bed + Futon Cabins

    Reserve Your Cedar Pass Lodge

    Cedar Pass Lodge in Badlands National Park South Dakota

    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!
    Souix Indian Taco at the Cedar Pass Restaurant
    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

    John enjoying coffee at Cedar Pass Restaurant

    Practical Information

    • Operating Season:  Cedar Pass Lodge is normally open from mid-April through mid-October depending on the weather.
    • ADA Rooms Available: Yes
    • 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.
    driving the scenic drive at Badlands National Park

    Click here to book your stay at Cedar Pass Lodge

    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

    Badlands National Park Tours

    ⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour - Click here for Rates and Availability.

    Learn all about the park's overlooks, hiking trails, history, and more as you travel along the Badlands Wall with this private self-guided app tour. The app's virtual narrorator shares fascinating facts about the national park, from local culture to fossils, while letting you explore at your own pace and terms.

    ⭐️ 4.8 of 5 Stars - Badlands NP Private Tour - Click here for Rates and Availability.

    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.

    Click here to book your stay at Cedar Pass Lodge

    Badlands Inn at Badlands National Park

    Additional Lodging in Badlands National Park

    ⭐️ 3.7 of 5 Stars - Badlands Inn - Click here for Rates and Availability.

    Just past the entrance gate, and minutes from the hub of Badlands National Park's visitor center is the Badlands Inn, a great basecamp for your Badlands adventure. We had a clean, spacious room, with a nice comfortable bed. Rooms included free parking, free Wi-Fi, coffee maker, toiletries, refrigerator, air conditioning and more.

    Badlands Lodging near the park

    ⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Best Western Plains Motel - Click here for Rates and Availability.

    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.

    ⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - America's Best Value Inn Wall - Click here for Rates and Availability.

    America's Best Value Inn is a short 4 minute walk to the National Grasslands Visitor Center, and 7 minutes to Wall Drug. Badlands National Park is 7.2 miles away, and Minnuteman Missile National Historic Site is 6.9 miles making a great hub for area attractions

    They offer 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.

    Click on the map below to see additional vacation rental and lodging options near the park.

    Badlands National Park Entrance Fee

    Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

    Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

    Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

    Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

    Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

    $25.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)

    $50.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats

    $60.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats

    $150.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats

    Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

    $80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

    2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

    Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

    National Park Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.

    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
    • Jewel Cave National Monument 
    • Yellowstone National Park
    • Grand Teton National  Park
    • 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 

    Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok

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    Filed Under: Lodging, US National Parks

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